
iir 







Book- Q } tn< o 



First Congregational Church 

Cromwell, Connecticut 




Organized, January 5, 1715 
Incorporated, January 5, 1906 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



First Church in Cromwell 

1715 - 1915 




EDITED BY 

THE REV. HOMER WESLEY HILDRETH 

H 

MINISTER 



c\^\5a 






PRESS OF JAMES D. YOUNG 

MIDDLETOWN, CONN. 

1915 






^* A FOREWORD 

Two centuries of life and labor for the Christ and His 
'<N Church is the record here chronicled and consumated. 
"^ The place of this record is the First Congregational 

^i Church of Cromwell, Conn. The date, May 23d and 24th, 

(^^ 1915. 

vJx^ 'pj^g (jy^y and the privilege of preparing this History of 

the First Church in Cromwell came to the writer as an heri- 
tage due to the fact that his was the pastorate during the 
commemorative year of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of 
the founding of this Church's life. 

The documentary records of both Church and Society 
have been faithfully and fully kept. Their story has been 
substantiated and amplified from the collateral of Town and 
Colonial records. 

Acknowledgements for kindly and considerate assistance 
in the editing of this book are due to many, but especially to 
my colleagues on the Program Committee, Mrs. Harvey 
Jewell and Dr. Charles A. McKendree; also to Rev. Dr. A. W. 
Hazen, Pastor of North Church, Middletown, Conn., Rev. 
Dr. Samuel Hart, President Connecticut Historical Society 
and the Data Committee for the Bi-Centennial, is the writer 
indebted for frequent and valuable help. 

Conscious of the venerable past of this Church's life and 
devoutly thankful for the vaster vision and the larger task 
that awaits us, "let us lay aside every weight and the sin 
which does so easily beset us and looking unto Jesus the Author 
and Perfector of our Faith, let us press on toward the prize 
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord." — For 

"The Ages come and go, 

The Centuries pass as years. 

And Him evermore I behold 
Walking in Galilee. 

He toucheth the sightless eyes; 

Before Him the demons flee; 
To the dead He sayeth: Arise! 

To the living: Follow me! 
And that voice still soundeth on 

From the Centuries that are gone, 
To the Centuries that shall be!" 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 



In-vitation to the Bi-Centennial and Fellowship 

Day Program 1 

The Anniversary Sermon 2 

rev. henry g. marshall 

The Dedication of Memorial Pulpit 3 

The Memorial Hymn 8 

mrs. e. c. bailey 

The History of the Bible School 9 

MR. E. S. COE 

The History of the Christian Endeavor Society 12 
mrs. s. v. hubbard 

Address: "The Mission of the Meeting House" 15 
rev. dr. rockwell h. potter 

Commemoration Day Program 20 

Sketch of the Church Choir 21 

MRS. E. c. bailey 

Two Centuries of Church Life 23 

rev. h. w. hildreth 

The History of the Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society, 46 

mrs. e. s. coe 

Historical Sketch of the Ladies' Aid Society . . 49 
MRS. w. p. couch 

The Anniversary Reception 56 

Address: "The Church that Stands Four Square" 57 
rev. dr. charles r. brown 

Program of the Musical 64 

Conclusion 65 



tn tiK 

iUpmbprs nf tl|r Jfirat Qll^urrl^ in (UromiitpU. (Ennit. 

Ola b0tl| tl|nHP uil|n are uom tVUnui wnrkrrH tngptlipr 

uiitli iiH in i!|ia Biupifarir ljrri\ anb tn tlpar uiI^d I^aur 

gonp afar tn liof anb labnr in l^ia iNamr. m\h alan 

tn tl|f mrmnrg nf all tl|nar lul^n iitpre nnrp nf tl)ia 

fnlb but l|aup nniu ?nt^rr^ intn tl|r rtrrnal inl|rrit- 

anrp mljirlt ta jirrjiarrb fnr all lul^n Inurii tlir iCnrJi 

MsBua unh Itaup labnrrb arrcptabhi fnr ^iut — 

Aa a ©ributr nf Slnne anii ^nnnr 

3?nr tl|p Sjtutng nnh tl|f SraiJ. 

2Jy ®l|ia Ct^urrl^'a 

Jiftr^ntl^ Miniatpr. 



HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
IN CROMWELL, CONN. 



1715 1915 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

OF Cromwell, Connecticut 

cordially invites you 

to be present at the Celebration of 

THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE Founding of the Church 

May Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth 

Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen 

Responding to this invitation, both the Church and the 
community made these days of Fellowship and Commemora- 
tion of lasting remembrance. These were days to restore the 
old ways, to revive the inner life, and to rejoice over the better 
days to be. 

The celebration of the Bi-Centennial extended over two 
days, commencing Simday mornirg, the twenty-third of May. 
That day was known as Fellowship Day and opened with an 
organ prelude entitled, Andante Cantabile from Fourth Organ 
Symphony, by Charles Marie Widor. Invocation by the 
Pastor. An anthem, "Return, O Wanderer to Thy Throne" 
was sung by the choir. 

Then the pastor and the people dedicated the Memorial 
Pulpit to the first four pastors of the Church in these 
words : 

To the holy keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord, our God. 

We Dedicate this Pulpit. 
To the many pleadings and warnings; the gracious promises 
and spirit-illumined truths, uttered by the Prophets of God. 

We Dedicate this Pulpit. 



2 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

To the ever-living; ever-comforting; ever-saving words of the 
Son of God. 

We Dedicate this Pulpit. 
To the outbreathing of every prayer bringing mankind unto the 
Secret Place of the Most High. 

We Dedicate this Pulpit. 
To all hymns of our most holy faith, arising from the strife and the 
triumph of the Saints, the Martyrs and the Fathers. 
We Dedicate this Pulpit. 
To all the messages of Hope, leading the weary to Rest, the 
sorrowing to Peace, the sinner to Repentance, and the faithful to the 
Joys of that City whose Builder and Maker is God. 
We Dedicate this Pulpit. 
To the manifold witness of the Holy Spirit; the saving grace of 
the Lord Jesus Christ; and the world-wide coming of the glorious 
Kingdom of our God. 

We Dedicate this Pulpit. 

The congregation united in singing "Come Thou Almighty 
King," and the offertory was a contralto solo by Miss Ruth 
Austin of Cromwell. The morning lesson and sermon was by 
the Rev. Henry G. Marshall of Milford, one of the former 
pastors of this Church. With a fine sense of fitness Mr. Mar- 
shall selected for his theme, "A Glimpse of a Small Portion 
of the Kingdom." His text was — 

One calleth unto me out of Sier, Watchman, what of the 
night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, 
The morning cometh, and also the night. If ye will inquire, 
inquire ye: turn ye. Come. — Isaiah xxi, 11, 12. 

This is an entire prophecy, one of the briefest in the 
Bible, a question repeated, no doubt, for emphasis. Coming 
from the Sier, the capital of Edom, the ancient and inveterate 
enemy of Israel, he puts the reiterated question to this 
watchman who, stationed upon the walls of Zion, is looking 
out for all the interests of the Holy City. If we note the 
time of this question we find it may be when Zion is in captivity, 
a time of deep distress in the nation, therefore, judging from 
both the source and the time of the question we see that it 
is less an inquiry for information than a taunting question, 
as if this hostile questioner was saying, "your prospects are 
not brilliant. What of the night? What has it brought? 
What is it bringing you? Is it deliverance and safety or 
deeper gloom? As men of the world are now tauntingly say- 
ing in the midst of the present terrible world-wide war, 
where is your Christianity? What of the dark night of 
Paganism into which we seem to be plunging. What have 
you to say who have been set to watch ? The prophet answers, 
The morning cometh and also the night. It may be but a 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 3 

truism that the morning cometh. No night so long that the 
day does not dawn. The morning cometh, so in like manner 
as time moves on and the world rolls round , night will follow. 
Yet first comes the morning after the darkest night. 

As one who for nearly one-tenth of the time that watch- 
men have been set on the walls of this small portion of the 
kingdom here on the upper meadows I seem to hear this 
inquiry: Inquire ye, not so much in the way of a taunt, as 
a vision of the twenty years in which we, as watchmen and 
host have sought to keep the city in safe and prosperous 
conditions. When I consider that thirty years have passed 
since I first stood in this House of God to take the watch 
care of this part of the kingdom, I little thought I should have a 
home here so many years and acquire so many delightful 
memories, and after these years to return to join in this glad 
celebration and tell a little of the story of it to the succeeding 
generation. 

Of the events and incidents of those nineteen years many 
before me know little, and they are only a small part of the 
whole history. They will be to some like ancient history and 
possibly of little interest. Yet bear with me if I enter into 
more particulars than the historian of one small period of 
the two centuries of the Church's life would venture to give. 

At the outset, the Church was refurnished with pulpit, 
chairs, carpets and fresh paint and a roof on the parsonage. 
Here and there along the village street were a few stone 
walks, while every house was fenced in from the street as if 
they would have no intruders. There were three saloons 
where intoxicating drink was sold, beside one road house of 
notoriously vile repute half way between here and Middletown. 
There were four school houses instead of the fine new one 
you now enjoy. There was no library usable though there 
had been one in time past, but the books had become old and 
were well scattered. There had been a reading room in the 
upper room of the academy building, the lower room only 
being used for school purposes. There was no quarry open. 
At the green house only eight or ten small houses, emplo>4ng 
some half dozen men. The plate shop, long since burned, 
was about closing business. The foundry in North Cromwell 
was in a prosperous condition. Of these material interests 
it is not my province to speak, except as they may pertain 
to the religious interests and the younger generation may 
compare with the present condition of the town and note the 
answer that the watchman of the present day may give to 
that taunting question, What of the night? 

That first Sunday there were 130 present, not far from 



4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

the average for that year, which was 117. Three years later 
the average attendance was 132. In the evening there were 
76, and there was, preceding it, a young men's meeting, which 
had been held for several years, taking the place in those days 
of the Christian Endeavor Society, which was organized a few 
years later. There was a union neighborhood meeting in the 
Plain's school-house every Tuesday evening, and in the fall 
of that year, with the attendance of 40 to 50, and most of 
those who attended that meeting and carried their lamps with 
them have passed on where they need no lamp nor light of 
the sun for the Lord God giveth them light. During that fall 
a good degree of interest in religious things was manifested 
and neighborhood meetings were held in the nooks at which 
30 to 40 were present, and there were some conversions. 

In October the town voted no license by a vote of 87 
to 40. Messrs. Bums & Freeman began a canvass of the 
town in the interests of the Connecticut Bible Society, which 
proved of great value in awakening an interest in religion. 
Meetings were held in various parts of the town and there were 
many conversions. A Law and Order League was organized 
to enforce the no license we had voted, and by its persistent 
efforts and prosecutions the saloons were closed and the 
keeper of the vile road house was obliged to sell out and leave 
town. For seven years this League had a vigorous existence 
following up all cases of illegal liquor selling and other viola- 
tions of law and bringing the offenders to justice. 

The result of that Bible canvass showed 388 families, 
1,622 persons in them, 223 were Americans, about one-third 
Catholic and two-thirds Protestants; 109 Congregational 
families, 428 persons; 59 Methodist families, 241 persons; 
45 Baptist; 17 Episcopal; 123 Catholic, 576 persons. 

In December, 1886 the Christian Endeavor Society was 
organized. The young men's Sunday evening meeting having 
been discontinued. The next summer (1887) the Church was 
closed for two months for the changes necessitated by putting 
in the fine organ, the gift of Brother Frederick Wilcox, a most 
worthy memorial of the brother, who though not himself a 
singer, loved the praises of Zion and enjoyed the worship of 
God's House with this tuneful addition, but three years after 
that he was called home and this is left as our lasting 
memorial of him. 

By the invitation of the Baptist and Methodist Churches 
we held our services in their houses of worship and added to 
our spirit of fraternity and fellowship. 

In 1890 a church visitation was undertaken with gratify- 
ing results in discovering some hidden Christians. The 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 5 

Swedish people increasing in numbers and using our confer- 
ence room for their worship under the leadership of Brother 
Carlson of Portland, developed so much that at our Com- 
munion in May, fifteen united with our church, Brother 
Carlson assisting and acting as interpreter. Thirty-six were 
added that year. After they had increased in nimibers and 
had found it difficult to understand the English, in July, 1892, 
they began to build their present church building and dedi- 
cated it on July 17, 1892. I had the privilege of preaching the 
dedication sermon, the only part of the services which was 
in English. Twenty from our church and others from the 
other churches imited in the new church. 

By the kindness of the church in the summer of 1891, I 
was permitted to be absent three months on an ever memorable 
and delightful trip to Europe and the Holy Land. In Decem- 
ber, two representatives of the state Y. M. C. A., Messrs. 
Folger and Jackson, held a series of Union meetings, which 
were continued after they left by cottage meetings which 
resulted in more than thirty being added to the church. 

At the semi-centennial anniversary of the dedication of 
the present meeting house in January, 1891, we had present 
thirteen who were present when it was dedicated. The roll 
call answered to 174 names and there were 400 present. The 
records of that most interesting occasion have been printed 
and I need only to allude to it. 

Soon after, a very stirring convention of Christian 
workers was held in Hartford, at which a number of our own 
workers were moved to come home and start Gospel meetings 
in the south district. So much interest was aroused that rooms 
were hired in a partly vacant house and fitted up for the pur- 
pose of holding Gospel meetings. Though a Union effort, 
many of the active workers were from our church. The meet- 
ings were held on Sunday, p. m., and Wednesday evening and 
other neighborhood meetings were held, and, as a result, 
thirty-six were added to this church and others to the other 
churches. A committee of Gospel workers was organized, 
which continued the work when they moved into a vacant 
store on the corner just in time to forestall a party who 
purposed to open a saloon. It had been used for that purpose 
six years before and in a drunken brawl one man had deliber- 
ately shot another, though fortunately not fatally. A reading 
room was opened, a game room for the boys and a nucleus for 
a library. It was in a measure a Y. M. C. A. 

For some years it proved the headquarters of tmion moral 
and religious effort, attempting for several years what in our 
cities is called institutional work at an annual expense of 



6 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

about $200. The desire was to bring in out of the street and 
other lounging places boys and young men and provide for 
them something elevating and instructive. But as usual they 
would not be persuaded, at least in any large numbers. It 
was opened January 17, 1892. 

Large and successful meetings were held on Sunday p.m., 
and Wednesday evenings and children's meetings on Sunday 
evenings before the other evening meetings. Quite a number 
came who were unwilling to come to the regular church 
meetings. From this room much influence went forth for 
good in the no license campaigns. It continued for seven 
years, until through the decrease of workers it was thought 
to be a wiser use of the money than to expend it merely to 
maintain a prayer meeting room when we already had plenty 
to use. The committee, however, did not disband, but con- 
tinued to hold cottage prayer meetings and hold themselves 
in readiness to unite in any good work for the Master. Our 
great confidence was in the power of prayer, of which we had 
so many proofs. 

In January, 1893, Mrs. Jackson, an evangelist, came and 
held a series of union meetings in the Baptist Church, which 
were largely attended and some thirty-six were reported 
converted. 

In the early summer, Mr. Clifford, at the invitation of 
the Gospel workers, made a religious canvass of the town 
more thorough than that of the Bible Society visitors. He 
found 2,136 people in the town, 1,333 Protestants and 803 
Catholics; 138 Congregational families, 75 Baptists, 57 Metho- 
dists; others not reported. 

Many homes were blessed by his coming with the simple 
Gospel message. In the spring of the same year Mr. Spear, 
a Temperance speaker of some celebrity, held a four days' 
meeting, awakening no little enthusiasm and influencing 
many to sign the pledge. 

The following 1894, in order to bring the members of the 
church into better fellowship and work I issued group cards 
dividing the entire church into groups of six who should for 
one year seek a closer fellowship with each other in the 
Master's service. One in each group was designated the leader. 
They were to be mutually helpful in whatever way they could. 
One group held a monthly meeting for prayer throughout the 
year. At our annual meeting each group was to report what 
had been done and the groups were changed. This proved a 
very helpful method where it was faithfully followed, as it 
was by several of the groups for a number of years. 

In 1896 Mr. Raymond began a canvass of the town in 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 7 

the interests of the Bible Society. He was here a month and 
his services were very acceptable and spiritually profitable 
to many. One result of his labors was the adoption by the 
church of the responsive reading of the Psalms, greatly to the 
enrichment of the public worship. The Communion Service 
was changed to the close of the morning service. The fol- 
lowing year we had brief visits from Mr. Kibbee, Mr. Ham- 
mond, Mr. Franson and Mr. Pope, who each gave us a brief 
temporary awakening and the neighborhood cottage meetings 
were revived. 

The year 1898 brought no workers from without. A 
cradle roll of thirty members was started and the Young 
Ladies' Mission Circle revived. The next year we were 
represented on the mission field by one of our number, Mr. 
Moline, though not under the A. B. C. F. M., but in an 
industrial mission in Africa ; but in another year it broke and 
he was returned to this country. 

This Church took more than ordinary interest in missions, 
having, no doubt, been greatly awakened thereto by the labors 
and the departure to Persia of the devoted missionary. Rev. 
William Stocking. When I came we were giving to benevo- 
lences, $659. We increased yearly till in ten years we gave 
for our annual contribution, $3,279.05, and continuing for 
several years near that amount an armual average of $23.00 
per member. 

A remarkable coincidence occurred in 1900 when four 
of our members died sixty-three years from the time they 
united with the church: Mrs. Sage, Mrs. Haskell, Frederick 
Wilcox and Mrs. Wright. 

In 1901 the graduates of the Cradle Roll were organized 
in a Junior Mission Circle. 

When I began there were 143 members, 33 non-resident; 
61 of these remained, 22 non-resident, leaving but 39 survivors. 
Few of those in this house that first day I came here are here 
today. Many are the changes even in this small portion of 
the Master's world-wide kingdom. In these twenty years, 
163 have united with the church (130 on confession), an aver- 
age of 7 per year. There have been 152 removals by death 
and dismissal, making only a net gain of 11. There were 110 
resident members when I came and when I left, 106. I at- 
tended 184 funerals, an average of nearly 10 per year; 105 
baptisms, 54 of them infants. On Children's Day, 1888, we 
began giving Bibles to those baptized children who had reached 
the age of seven, and since that time we have given 55 Bibles 
to as many children, an average of 3 per year. Membership 
has fluctuated from 139 to 182. Families have in hke manner 



8 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

from 126 to 132 and to 75. The Sunday School Hkewise from 
142 to 226, always in the front rank in its yearly offerings for 
missions, an average of $286 per year and reaching the high 
water mark in 1891 of S390.82. The aggregate sum seems 
large, $5,447.75, as in like manner the benevolences of the 
church aggregated $27,709.00, an average of $1,385 per year. 
The Parish expenses have aggregated $29,473.00, an average 
of $1,473.00 per year. During the time two legacies have been 
received, $1,940 and $150.00, which equal $2,090. As we 
compare these figures and results with the millions given and 
used in the world-wide kingdom they seem insignificant. If 
this small branch of the kingdom in twenty years has made so 
little advance, has the whole kingdom made no greater? 
Watchman, what of the night? The morning cometh, and also 
the night Who will doubt the final result? If the darkness 
of the night intervenes yet the morning is coming. May we 
not learn what the Prophet meaneth by the darkness which 
cometh upon us, when he says: "Then shall they know that 
I am Jehovah, when I have made the land a desolation and 
an astonishment because of all their abominations which they 
have committed." — (Ezekiel, xxxiii, 29). 

We shall see through the darkness and our disappoint- 
ments, how He is enlightening us in His way. 

"Come Thou Almighty King" was then sung by the 
congregation. The commemoration of the Lord's Supper 
followed, the Pastor, the Rev. Homer Wesley Hildreth officia- 
ting, assisted by the Rev. Frederic M. Hollister, of Mystic, a 
former pastor. This service came to a fitting close with the 
congregational singing of the Memorial Hymn composed espe- 
ciallyfor this occasion by Mrs. Edward C. Bailey of Cromwell. 

On this glad day we sing Thy praise, 

And feel Thy presence ever near; 
O crown us with Thy richest grace, 

And fill our lives with love and cheer. 

To noble things turn every thought, 

Inspire the hearts of everyone, 
And teach us, Lord, as Thou hast taught 

Thy children in the centuries gone. 

With humble reverence we bow, 

In memory to those of yore; 
Grant us Thy peace and help us now 

To worship and Thy name adore. 

Thy truth stands firm from age to age, 
And ever shall Thy love endure; 

Give unto us a steadfast faith, 

Thy name be praised forevermore. 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 9 

The Benediction was by the Rev. H. G. Marshall. The 
Postlude was "March" from Wider 's Third Organ Symphony. 

Sunday noon, the anniversary exercises of the Bible 
School were held. Most interestingly did Mr. Robert Darling 
of Simsbury bring us Greetings from the Connecticut Sunday 
School Association of which he was President. The Kinder- 
garten exercises and the singing by the girls' choir were much 
enjoyed. 

The Historical Paper by Deacon Edward S. Coe was a 
virile account of the Bible School's long and fruitful service. 
Deacon Coe said: 

The Sunday School has been called "the child of the 
Church." It is more than that for it is a valuable addition 
to the church. How far-reaching are its influences! Many 
of our young men and women have entered the Christian life 
throtigh the efforts and with the help of a faithful teacher. 
The school of this historic church has a record of work which 
we may look back upon with gratitude and is an incentive 
to look forward with hopefulness. 

Organized in 1817, it has recently passed the ninety- 
eighth anniversary. In the early years the work of the school 
consisted of the use of the Westminster shorter catechism and 
the memorizing of Scripture verses and chapters. Prizes of 
Bibles were given to those who repeated the greatest number 
of chapters at the annual examination conducted by Rev. 
Joshua L. Williams, the pastor from 1809 to 1832. Some of 
the earliest superintendents are mentioned as follows: 

Rev. William Redfield Stocking, who later went to the 
Nestorians as one of the early missionaries of the American 
Board. His son, William R. Stocking, followed him in the 
work there and in 1906 his granddaughter, Miss Annie Wood- 
man Stocking of Williamstown, Mass., went to the same coun- 
try to engage in mission work under the Woman's Board of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

As a missionary, Mr. Stocking carried on a great work 
for the churches. Rev. G. S. F. Savage, D. D., of Chicago, one 
of the early superintendents, has always been deeply interested 
in this old church and school where he began his Christian 
life and service in 1831, and where he was ordained to the 
ministry as a home missionary, leaving immediately for 
Illinois, where with God's help he accomplished very much 
in his work with the churches of that state and later as an 
officer for many years of the Chicago Theological Seminary 
of which he was one of the founders. Bom in 1817, the year 
that this school was organized, he is still living in Chicago 



10 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

at the age of ninety-eight years. If possible he would gladly 
be with us today. 

The record of the services at the Semi-Centennial Anni- 
versary of the dedication of this church building, January 6, 
1891, contains a very interesting letter from him, giving his 
earliest recollections associated with the old meeting-house 
and the work in connection with the erection of this building 
in 1840. Rev. Jarius Wilcox, superintendent, also became an 
early missionary in Illinois. He organized two strong churches 
and an academy in that state. 

It gives me pleasure to read from the record of the semi- 
centennial the recollections of the school by Deacon George 
H. Butler, a faithful superintendent for twenty two-vears — 
1871 to 1893. 

"The first opening of the Congregational Sunday School 
was probably in the spring of 1817. I think for a niunber of 
years the school then organized was a summer school, as there 
was but one hour's intermission between the morning and 
afternoon church services in the winter, so for lack of time 
and because of the cold, it was vacation. But with two hour's 
intermission between church services during the longer days 
of warm weather there was ample time. 

"It must have been 1829 or 1830 when I was first put 
into a class and given a few verses from the first chapter of 
St. John's Gospel to commit to memory. (They are in 
memory still.) I remember no explanation of the text being 
given, merely a repetition of the words being required. 

"As years went on we reached the American Sunday 
School Union Question Books, with fifty-two lessons for the 
year in some book of the New Testament. The Scripture text 
was at the head of each lesson, as in our present Quarterlies. 
The questions in coarse print were answered by reading from 
the text; the fine print questions v/ere usually left for the 
teacher to answer, if he saw fit. A little Sunda}^ School Union 
hymn book without tunes contained the hymns that were 
sung. 

"The first superintendent that I remember was William 
R. Stocking, who, when about to depart as a missionary, 
organized the school into a missionary society, wishing each 
member to give one cent a month for the cause of missions. 
The collections were sent to the A. B. C. F. M. to apply 
toward Mr. Stocking's support. After his death the gather- 
ings were directed to apply toward mission schools. 

"The next superintendent that I recall was Dr. Richard 
Warner. Later Abiel S. Geer filled the place acceptably, and 
probably remembered the names and faces of the members 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 11 

of the school better than most are able, and he usually spoke 
a cheery word whenever he met one. 

"He was followed by Deacon John Stevens, who started 
our Sunday School concerts, held monthly for a while, in 
which the scholars repeated some text of Scripture containing 
some particular word, as love, faith, hope, etc. Occasionally 
some scholar would repeat some piece of poetry. These 
exercises, with the songs interspersed, were quite interesting. 
Deacon Stevens suggested also that there were children in 
this country needing teachers as well as in foreign lands, 
which suggestion was adopted, and for many years our annual 
collections have been equally divided between home and 
foreign schools. 

"William M. Noble succeeded Deacon Stevens as super- 
intendent, but excused himself, after a short term, on account 
of distance, thus leaving the office to his assistant. I do not 
know the number enrolled in this school in my younger days, 
I think the present enrollment, omitting the primary and adult 
classes, would equal it. I also think that the teachers and 
teaching are much more efficient. 

"The Last Day only can show how much of the good seed 
here sown has produced fruit to the honor and glory of God, 
to whom be the praise forever and ever." 

It was my privilege during the twenty-two years to be 
associated with Deacon Butler as assistant superintendent for 
nineteen years and to follow him as superintendent for twelve 
years — 1893 to 1905. 

Those of us who knew him well realized that he was a 
rare man. He gave much of his time and energy to the 
church and school. From 1905 the following have been 
elected superintendents in the order named: George S. 
Butler, Charles R. Geiger, Harvey Jewell, Willis Warner, 
Robert C. Smallwood and Edward W. Johnson, who now 
fills the office. 

Through all the years the school has had many teachers 
who have been deeply interested in the welfare of their 
classes. 

In 1907 the Men's Brotherhood was formed and during 
the first six months more than fifty became active and asso- 
ciate members. They meet as a class in the school. 

The Junior Brotherhood was organized in 1913. From 
the first tfifi school has continued its interest in mission work 
as shown by the yearly offerings for the support of schools 
in home and foreign fields. The offerings increased from year 
to year until 1890, the banner year, when they were three 
hundred and one dollars. (The present officers will report 



12 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

the membership and particulars regarding the work in recent 
years.) To the boys and girls of today what better message 
can I leave than this, that you continue these records of good 
work, and improve your opportunities for Bible study and 
let their influences mold your lives to higher living. 

To the adults and teachers, let the examples of loving 
and faithful service that has been given this school in the 
past, renew your interest and prayers and give you a brighter 
look into the beyond, rejoicing to have served the Master. 

The anniversary exercises of the Christian Endeavor 
were held Sunday evening at half past six o'clock. 

The Prelude "Barcarolle," was rendered by the C. E. 
Orchestra and the service of song was under their leadership. 

With well chosen words. Miss Azelia Hall, President of 
the society, introduced the speakers of the evening: Mrs. 
Samuel V. Hubbard, whose historical paper was on "The Past" 
and Mr. Frank Nicholas of New Haven, president of the State 
C. E. Union, who spoke most helpfully on "The Present." 

Mrs. Hubbard as a charter member of this society gave 
a most interesting paper, saying: 

The Society of Christian Endeavor of the First Church 
of Cromwell was organized in 1886. 

Early in the autumn of that year a number of the young 
people of the church began holding meetings, and after much 
discussion it was decided to organize a society which should 
be affiliated with the National Christian Endeavor Union. 
A constitution was drawn up, which was formally adopted 
December 1, 1886; and on the same date officers were chosen. 
Thus it will be seen that this society is one of the oldest in 
the Christian Endeavor Union. The charter members num- 
bered fifteen Active and twelve Associate, and were as fol- 
lows, as taken from the records : 

Active Associate 

Rev. H. G. Marshall S. V. Hubbard 

George S. Butler Mary Botelle 

Arthur Watrous Lucretia Lyons 

Florence Church Virginia Sage 

Lucy Savage Henry Edwards 

Carrie Savage Bertha Sage 

Anna H. Coe Charles Sage 

Bessie Prior Eddie Savage 

Adolph Milliez Addie Prior 

Jennie W. Johnson John Barbour 

Aggie Duncan Samuel Marshal 

Alexander McRae Cornie Jones 

Lizzie A. Church 
Julia S. Waters 
Swen Johnson 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 13 

Of these all are living except Mrs. Julia Waters Bryce, 
who died November 29, 1904. The first President was Mr. 
George S. Butler, Miss Julia Waters, Vice President and 
Arthur A. Watrous, Secretary and Treasurer. Rev. H. G. 
Marshall at that time pastor of this Church, was chosen 
Chairman of the first Prayer Meeting Committee, with 
Bessie Prior, Lucy Savage and Swen Johnson as his assistants. 
Carrie Savage, Arthur Watrous, George Butler and Florence 
Church formed the first Lookout Committee. 

During the first year there were added twelve Active 
members and eighteen Associate members. Of these Active 
members six were from those previously interested as Asso- 
ciate members. 

During this year it is recorded that the society assisted 
defraying the expense of cleaning the home church and also 
in sharing the expenses of the Conference at Hartford. 

The first anniversary was celebrated December 8, 1887, 
with appropriate exercises, to which were invited all the 
Christian Endeavor Societies in Middlesex County and the 
Society at Rocky Hill. 

At the beginning of the second year the society adopted 
what is known as the Christian Endeavor pledge. Its growth 
is also marked by the care bestowed by the members upon 
things pertaining to the Church. Ushers were appointed to 
serve at the church services. And for many years the flowers 
were arranged by committees appointed for that purpose. 
Various missionary enterprises were also aided from time to 
time by gifts of money. 

In March, 1893, the time of the meetings was changed 
from Wednesday evening to Sunday evening. In October, 
1894, the members entered into the work of assisting the 
prayer meetings at the Plains school-house. 

In 1904 the Associate members began to participate 
actively in the business meetings of the society. 

Such in brief is the record of the Christian Endeavor 
Society in the twenty-eight years of its existence. Of the 
charter members four are still members of this Church. 
Its first president was long the superintendent of the Sunday 
School, and the others faithful teachers, workers in the 
Ladies' Aid, tried helpers in the missionary societies. 

Active in everything pertaining to the welfare of church 
or town. It is a story quickly told. Just a simple record of 
kindly deeds, simple service which brightened life, small gifts 
to others less favored. But who can measure the worth of 
the work inaugurated and carried forward by that little band 
of young people. Of those who later joined them much might 



14 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

be said. Two became successful pastors, one a healer of 
disease, one a teacher in a great school. Others took up the 
work of the home church, while others yet went forth to train 
in their turn young hearts for Christian service. The working 
force of the chiu-ch today is drawn largely from those who 
gained their first insight into church work through the work 
of the Christian Endeavor Society. 

Some fell by the way. Tenderly do we recall them all, 
but two names stand our most clearly: Julia Waters Bryce, 
a charter member, one of the first officers, and most closely 
identified with the work of the society in its early years, who 
passed into the Beyond in 1904, and Mattie May Frisbie, 
whose living zeal made her work so efficient and whose devo- 
tion was shown in the request just before she went home, 
February 27, 1903, that her small savings be given to her loved 
society. The gift was used in the purchase of the piano 
which is her memorial. 

It is of more than passing interest to note that the charter 
members who remained in the home church so kept their 
interest and trained their children that with the passing of the 
years those children in turn took up and carried forward the 
work. Some still remaining as Active members. 

It remains to speak of the society as it stands today. 
The work started so long ago is most encouraging. There is 
now a membership of forty-seven, with an average attend- 
ance of twenty. Beside the regular committee there has 
recently been appointed a committee on civic work. Another 
new feature is the orchestra, which adds greatly to the 
musical part of the meetings. Some of the members have 
recently taken up active work in the Sunday School. The 
outlook is certainly bright for the future for the Christian 
Endeavor Society of the First Church of Cromwell. 

Look back! But be not sad, 
Nay, rather, be thou glad. 
The seed, in trembling sown, 
Through the long years has grown. 
The end we cannot see 
But still o'er you and me, 
As over those who sleep, 
Our God His watch will keep, 
Until, beyond life's strain, 
We meet in Him again. 

There were present at the reading of this paper ten of 
the charter members, and five of the first officers and com- 
mittees. 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 15 

"The Future" for the Christ and His Church was then 
anticipated through the roll call as many responded with 
words of personal consecration. The singing of "God Be 
With You," and the Postlude, "Miserere from II Trovatore" 
by the C. E. Orchestra ended this service. 

The evening worship was opened and closed with organ 
selections from "Parsifal" by Richard Wagner. An Antiphon 
responsive service was given by the minister and the choir. 
The Invocation, the Rev. F. M. Hollister. The congregation 
singing "Ye Servants of God." Miss Ruth Austin and Dr. 
C. A. McKendree, both of Cromwell, sang a duet: "The Lord 
is Our Leader." 

The Rev. Dr. Rockwell Harmon Potter, pastor of the 
Center Church, Hartford, delivered a most inspiring address 
on "The Mission of the Meeting House." He said in part: 

Fathers and brethren of the church in Cromwell, person- 
ally I rejoice to fulfill the long anticipated debt of accepting 
3'our invitation and to be present with you this evening. I 
rejoice to meet here Mr. Marshall, the revered of all the 
ministers of Connecticut. I am glad to see here Mr. Hollister 
who was pastor of this church in the early part of my own 
ministry in Hartford; and your present minister, whose 
acquaintance I made before I came to Connecticut when we 
were students in Union Seminary. I rejoice in this occasion 
with him and with you. I bring to you the greetings of the 
First Church of Christ in Hartford. From our own ancient 
meeting house to your ancient meeting house and from our 
ancient organization to your ancient organization I bring 
messages of good- will and of God -speed. And I earnestly hope 
that the years to come may fulfill the promise which the 
past has so abundantly given. The churches of Connecticut 
rejoice in the story of your two hundred years and their 
prayers are with you and for you. 

The American Meeting House as the home in America 
of the Christian Church is the mother of all the builded 
institutions that make for the uplift and the enrichment of 
our common life. The relationship is not always confessed 
either by the mother or by the daughter. In some cases it 
lies beneath the surface of things and is to be traced only by 
him who follows carefully the course of motives which work 
beneath the surface and appear in forms far different from 
those in which they were bom. 

Now all this is but a platitude of historical sociology. 
The service of the church in ministering to the uplift of the 
life of our Western World, and especially of our own land in 
the past is abundantly recognized. There are those, however. 



16 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

who, recognizing the service which the Church has rendered 
in the past, seriously question its fitness to render continued 
service in the present and the future. They think of it as an 
institution which has made good gifts to society and has made 
large bequests for its benefit, but it is their judgment that the 
Church has no longer the power, even if it has the will, to 
continue such gifts, and that the enjoyment of the bequests 
of the Church can be entered upon in fullness only when the 
Church itself as an institution, builded in the life of the 
community, has ceased to exist. They, therefore, would 
divert the Meeting House from its purpose as a place of 
worship and use it for other ends. They would make of it an 
historical museum in which to preserve interesting and 
instructive relics of past times. They would devote it to 
recreation, making of it a theater, or a dance hall, or a gymna- 
sivim. They would remove it entirely and devote the space 
which it occupies to the public health in the forms of parks 
and public squares or playgrounds. They have the feeling 
that to continue to appropriate feet-front on the city streets 
and choice spots in the town or village to a place of worship 
is a great economic waste which is not to be justified in a time 
which seeks to make the most and the best use of its every 
resource. 

The issue is not one of times long gone by. It is an 
issue of today and of every day. The question is as to the 
need and the worth of common worship, as to the value 
of the exercise of what we call distinctively religious acts 
and practices. Such work and value is challenged in our 
time, as it has been in every time, until all men shall have 
been won to recognize its worth and the kingdom of God 
in its spiritual value shall have fully entered into the hearts 
of the race. 

It is urged by men as an excuse or defence when they 
are charged with neglect of prayer and the act of worship, 
that the pressure of material necessities on life is so great 
that neither time nor strength remains for devotion to the 
purely spiritual objects of life. Now worship is always the 
devotion of man to spiritual things. In the act of worship, 
whether it be in the primitive simplicity of the Quakers, or 
in the gorgeous ceremonial of the Russian Church, the mind 
and heart of man are directed to the things that are spiritual. 
Whatever sensuous objects are used in worship are used only 
as a means through wMch the attention is directed to spiritual 
truths or principles or reality. The hour of worship is an 
hour devoted to what cannot be seen, to what cannot be heard 
to what cannot be handled or felt or weighed. It is the uplift 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 17 

of the life directly and immediately into communion in the 
spirit wdth spiritual realities. It is affirmed, however, that 
the things that can be seen and can be heard and can be felt 
and handled and weighed are of such pressing necessity as 
to assume a superior importance for man, which justifies him 
in neglecting spiritual things that he may attend to these 
material things. 

But I submit that whatever may seem to be the relative 
importance of things spiritual and things material, it is 
eternally true that man does not live by bread alone. That 
it is by just these things that cannot be seen, and cannot be 
heard and cannot be handled or weighed, that the individual 
lives and society survives. When a man in the police court 
makes the plea that he cared more for bread for his belly or a 
coat for his back than for the moral law, "Thou shalt not 
steal," the judge may have pity for the man, society may be 
stricken with compassion and shame because of his plight, 
but society is right in thinking that any man who takes that 
view of the relative importance of things seen and things 
unseen, of things tangible and things intangible, is not a safe 
man to be turned loose in the common Hfe. It insists that 
he be restrained until he sees things in their right relations. 
The man who makes the plea when charged with buying up 
a legislature or swindling a thousand people out of their 
savings, by floating a get-rich-quick proposition — the man 
who makes the plea that he did those things because a million 
dollars looked good to him and he had the power to take it, is 
told that until he sees things in their right relation and learns 
that the law, "Thou shalt not bear false witness" and the law 
"Thou shalt not steal" are of more worth to man than a 
fortune of a million dollars, or a fortune of a hundred million 
dollars, he must live under restraint. For until he sees things 
in right relations and understands that the invisible and 
spiritual things of life are of greater worth to men than the 
visible material things of life, it is not safe that he be let 
loose among men. 

Now the plea that the material need of life, the business 
of earning a living, is so great as to prevent the exercise of 
worship, is based upon the same fundamental error in perspec- 
tive in viewing the elements of life. Those who neglect 
worship are not guilty in the same sense in which the man who 
violates the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal" is guilty. 
But the logic of both positions is the same. It rests upon the 
fundamental and false proposition that material things are 
worth more than spiritual things, and therefore have the right 
to demand man's time and thought and strength to the 



18 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

exclusion of his opportunity for giving time or thought or 
strength to the things whicb are spiritual. This assumption 
is not true; it never was true and it never will be true. In 
proportion as man develops out of savagery into civilization 
he refuses to act upon this a.ssumption. He insists upon 
building places of worship and upon going to them for the 
practice of worship, and in doing so he gives evidence not of 
his folly, but of his profound wisdom, and more and more all 
men will come to see this, and less and less will they offer 
the old excuse that has been offered from the day when the 
first sacrifice lay upon its altar, the excuse that the business 
of life gives no time for prayer. 

It is urged as an apology for the neglect of worship by 
men today that this devotion to spiritual things in the act of 
worship is unnecessary and superfluous. Men say that they 
recognize clearly that life rests upon spiritual things, that 
it is spiritual things which are of the greatest importance in 
life. But they affirm that these spiritual realities can be 
apprehended by them without the necessity of visiting the 
Meeting House or spending any time or strength in what we 
call acts of prayer or worship. Such practice they say, is 
based upon the assumption that God is accessible only at 
certain times and in certain places. This delusion which was 
the natural result of man's ignorance is dispelled now by this 
larger knowledge. Our fathers went to the Meeting House 
to find God. We have learned that we can find Him at home. 
Our fathers exercised them.selves in worship one day in the 
week with the notion that God was specially gracious on that 
day. We have learned, however, that God is in every place 
as truly as He is in the Meeting House, that He is gracious 
every day as truly as on the first day of the week. Therefore, 
says the modem man, let us worship God everywhere and at every 
time, not in some particular place and at some particular time. 

Now it is certainly true that God is in every place. His 
presence is as truly in the forest as under cathedral arches, 
as truly in the home as in the Meeting House, as truly in the 
shop as in the pulpit, as truly at the desk as in the pew. It 
is also true that God is always gracious; His heart is filled 
with love every day in the week as truly as on Sunday. His 
ear is open to the cry of His children >Ahenever the earnest 
soul Hfts to Him the voice of the spirit. True prayer is 
fettered by no time and by no place. But this also is true, 
that unless man learns to worship God som^ewhere, at some 
tim^e, he does not -worship God anywhere, at any time. The 
necessity for worship is not theological, it is psychological; 
it is not divine, it is human; it is not in the nature of God, 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 19 

it is in the nature of man. You and I can pray to God any- 
where and at any time, everywhere and at every time. But 
do we ? The fact is that except as we patiently learn to worship 
Him in the place of common prayer, in the fellowship of 
praying men, under the instruction and the guidance of 
those who have learned to pray and by the inspiration of the 
fellowship of those who do pray — except as we give our- 
selves thus to the discipline of the fellowship of those who 
do pray — except as we give ourselves thus to the discipline 
of prayer we do not pray. It is a conclusion of historical 
psychology that personal and common prayer have existed 
always together in the life of the race, so that the historical 
sociologist finds that religion has a social origin. Such a 
view is abundantly confirmed by experience and observation. 
We need and must have the school of prayer, which is the 
common worship of the Christian Church, to teach us the 
worth of spiritual things in order that we may he able every- 
where to find God and at any time to enter into real com- 
munion with Him. This is the function of the Meeting House 
as a place of worship. It is the school of the spirit wherein 
life is exercised and so educated to the perception of the 
things of the spirit. 

There is made also today an appeal from the call of the 
Church to worship, to the spirit of the prophets declaring 
and defining what is religion. Men say that religion consists 
in doing justice and in loving mercy and in walking humbly 
with God; that is wholly comprehended in ethics and that 
there is no use or need for the Church as a religious institution. 
Now it is true that religion does consist in the establishment 
and maintenance of life in right relations with the world 
and with men and with God. It is also true that we would 
never have known this had not the Church as an institution 
of religion preserved in the world this truth and patiently 
and persistently declared in the world this truth. For just 
as the Church is imperatively needed to exercise and teach 
men in spiritual things, so also the ministry of the Church is 
imperatively needed in the world to teach men the spiritual 
sanctions of the moral law, to confirm them in such faith and 
hope as will enable them to fulfill the obligations which right 
relationships throw upon them, and so to achieve the destiny 
for which the race was bom. 

Let it be confessed with shame that too often the Church 
has forgotten her specific and peculiar task, too often the 
Church has concerned itself with tithes of mint and anise 
and cummin and neglected the weightier matters of the law; 
too often the Church has harbored within her bosom those 



20 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

who have proved traitors to her Lord and have cast disrepute 
upon her fair ideals. Yet it is to be affirmed that through 
all her history the Christian Church as a builded institution 
of the common life has been training men in righteousness, 
exercising them toward spiritual ideals of life, inspiring them 
through the fellowship of brotherhood to the achievement of 
the common good, the development in the individual of the 
Christ-like character, and the building in the world of the 
kingdom of God. 

It is for this reason that the Meeting House is a vantage 
ground of democracy. It is the rallying place of brotherhood. 
The idea of brotherhood has ten thousand lesser and other 
exponents in our modern life. These little circles are founded 
upon taste and class and caste and creed ; upon trade and color 
and speech and birth. By all these they are limited and fail 
to give to the world the great teaching of brotherhood in its 
supreme form. It is reserved for the Christian Church to 
discharge this high function, to fulfill this great mission. 
It is reserved for the Church in her common worship to call 
together all men of good will, and to bid them as they bow 
together in common prayer to learn together the essential 
law of life and then to send them forth to realize that law 
in the manifold and complex relationships which they bear 
on to another. Because the ideal of this, her service to men, 
is so high, the Church has failed at any time or in any place 
to wholly realize it. But thank God, the Church has never 
lowered her ideals, and into the coming age, alone of all the 
institutions of men, the Church goes with sure confidence, 
for whatever else may change human hearts will not change; 
whatever other wants may disappear, the want to which the 
Church ministers will remain. Men will ever need some great 
gospel of God's grace for their guidance, some bright shining 
of His purpose for their inspiration. In her ministry of 
worship to men may the Church never fail to offer these 
good gifts, 

"I Love Thy Kingdom Lord" was sung by the large con- 
gregation. Most felicitous and friendly was the greetings 
then given by the Rev. F. W. Greene of South Church, 
Middletown; the Rev. H. W. Tillinghast, acting pastor of 
the Baptist Church of this community, and the Rev. J. M. 
Henrikson, pastor of the Swedish Congregational Church of 
this town. 

The closing hymn was, "The Son of God Goes Forth to 
War." 

Monday was observed as Commemoration Day. The 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 21 

exercises began at two o'clock and were under the guidance of 
Deacon Coe. The organ selections for this service were 
"Toccata" and "Grand Choeur" by Theodore Dubois. The 
opening service of song was by an Old Fashioned Choir of 
young women from the Bible School under the guidance of 
Mrs. E. W. Johnson. With old-time enthusiasm they ren- 
dered, "Sound the Loud Timbrel." This was aptly followed 
with a "Sketch of the Church Choir" by Mrs. Edward C. 
Bailey, who said : 

The choir occupies a prominent place in every church, 
and in the early days deep religious convictions found a means 
of growth and expression in the hymns of that period. 

In 1761 it was voted that Nathaniel Riley, Luke Stebbins, 
Thomas Johnson, John Savage and Daniel Stocking were 
chosen to tune the Psakn in the meeting house in this society 
for the year ensuing. 

In the old meeting house the seats of the gallery were 
long, with backs rising one above another. The front row 
on all three sides was entirely occupied by the singers. This 
made a choir large enough for a modem chorus. In those 
days the Sunday attendance must have been large, in after 
years the middle gallery was quite large enough for the 
purpose. 

Little Marlborough and Wyndham were the promi- 
nent times in use, those of the minor mode being predominant, 
but a few years later brought great changes, and in the religious 
revivals which occurred between 1822 and 1831, such tunes 
as Greenville and missionary hymns were welcomed as better 
expressions of religious emotion. 

The introduction of better singing schools led to the 
practice of anthems which were sung by the church choir. 

The "pitch-pipe" in use in those days was in form about 
two inches in width, five inches in length, and less than an inch 
in thickness, being simply a box provided with a whistling 
draw tube, or stop, which could be adjusted to the notes by 
drawdng out to a greater or less degree. Armed with this 
implement the leader felt himself upon firm ground, and ad- 
justing it to the key note of the tune, he preluded with a 
"fa, so, la" till the opening note was reached, and then at a 
signal his forces struck in. 

But there was progress even in those quiet days, and it 
was not many years thereafter that the bass-viol furnished 
the key-note and the accompaniment, and still later the flute 
was called in for similar purpose. Mr. John Parmelee, the 
vocal leader, keeping time with his finger. Those humble 
attempts were the rudiments of true love for music, and 



22 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

were actuated by an earnest desire to apply it to its noblest 
service. 

At the dedication of this church building in 1841, Mr. 
Parmelee was chorister, and the choir was assisted by out of 
town singers. 

In 1844, Mr. Seth Paddock played a violin, and his 
brother Daniel a bass-viol. A few years later Mr. Lorenzo 
Treat led the choir playing the violin, and Elisha Sage the 
bass-viol. 

About 1850 Deacon John Stevens was chosen as chorister, 
a melodian being used at that time, and stood on the landing 
just back of the seats in the gallery. Miss Sarah Stevens, 
now Mrs. Gilliun, playing at that time. 

In November, 1853, Miss Mary Ann Latimer gave a 
pipe organ to the church which was also placed in the gallery, 
the singers occupying seats on each side. The organ was 
played by Miss Sarah Stevens, followed by Miss Emily 
Williams, and later by Miss Kate Stevens. 

In 1855 the society's committee were authorized to sell 
the double bass-viol and such other articles of movable 
property as they may deem useless to the society. 

Deacon Stevens was leader of the choir for over twenty- 
five years, he was very much interested in music, and engaged 
singing directors to come here and give lessons to the young 
people. Concerts and cantatas were given at the end of these 
lessons. 

In the spring of 1887, Mr. Frederick Wilcox gave the 
present organ to the church, Miss Jennie Hanscom, now Mrs. 
George Hanmer, being the organist at that time. A music 
committee was appointed, and at their suggestion it was 
voted to pay an organist and choir leader. 

The old organ went to the Westfield Congregational 
Church where it was in use until a few years ago. 

To mention the names of the singers, who have been 
members of the choir, would be a laborious task and, fearing 
some would be left out, I have refrained from mentioning any, 
but will say that some excellent voices have been heard, and 
many talented singers have given their services from time 
to time. 

I would pay tribute to our present organist. Miss Marion 
Hastings of Middletown, who has spared no pains to please 
in the four years she has been with us. 

During the past year the choir has been assisted by a 
quartette, and at times by the girls' chorus, which has been 
greatly appreciated. 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 23 

The Christian Endeavor Orchestra has also been heard 
on several occasions and enjoyed by all. 

On this occasion of the Bi-Centennial our church edifice 
still resounds with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 

As a foregleam of the next address, the audience sang: 
"Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, Zion, City of Our 
God." Then the pastor, the Rev. Homer Wesley Hildreth, 
spoke on the "Two Centuries of Church Life of Second Church 
of Middletown, now the First Church of Cromwell, Conn., 
covering the period from January 5, 1715, to January 5, 1915." 
He said: 

In "The Present Crisis," James Russell Lowell reminded 
us that — 

"History's pages but record 
One death-grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the Word; 
Truth forever on the scaffold. Wrong forever on the throne. 
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown 
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own." 

This is the way God's Truth always triumphs in history. 
Today, we meet to trace just such a triumph in the life of this 
Church. It is our's to restore the old ways; revive the inner 
life; rejoice over the better day. Restore, revive, rejoice as 
we retrace the pilgrim's way across the continent of the years. 
And retracing, remember how all the way the Lord our God 
has blessed and kept His own. 

The Eighteenth Century has been characterized as the 
Laodicean Age. Both the rulers and the ruled were neither 
hot nor cold. The Past was dead; the Present, disinteresting ; 
the Future, dreaded. 

The Renaissance had run its course. The Medieeval 
State with its feudaHsm and tyrannies was about to give place 
to the Modem State with its equality of rights and obliga- 
tions for all mankind. Even the religious debates and wars 
of the previous century had produced a wide-spread indiffer- 
ence and disbelief. Weariness in sectarian struggles had ended 
in revolt against all creeds; the denial of all religion. 

France had become the schoolmaster of the age. The 
French fondness for epigram was exemplified not only in her 
best writers such as Pascal but was equally felt in England, 
Germany and even in America. 

In England, John Locke and David Hum.e, as men of 
letters contributed much, and in state-craft and science, 
Adam Smith and Sir Isaac Ne\\i:on added important contri- 
butions. 



24 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

In Germany, Wolf, the disciple of Aristotle, and the poet 
Lessing, led the Germanic thought into this new era of letters 
and criticism. 

And in America, the teachers and the leaders of ethical 
and economic thought, such as Edwards and Franklin; 
Hamilton, Madison and Jay, were being trained by the same 
schoolmaster. So that in England, on the Continent and 
across the seas in Colonial America, the same silent but salient 
forces were enacting their age-molding events. Had not the 
Duke of Argyle suppressed the short-lived uprising of the 
Jacobites in England and Scotland? Had not the Peace of 
Utrecht rung the knell of Provincial Liberty? Had not 
Barcelona been taken by Berwick? And Charles XII of 
Sweden returned from his European exile, only to be besieged 
in Stralsnud? 

Like every year inhuman history, the year 1715, had its 
momentous events. On the Continent of Europe, the Mon- 
astry of Mafra, "the wonder of Portugal," was completed and 
consecrated. The modem world's most famous cosmogonist. 
Dr. Thomas Bamet, died at eighty years of age. 

In Netherlands, the Barrier Treaty of Antwerp with 
Austria was consummated. The Turks had laid seige to and 
captured Corinth. And, although the war of the Spanish 
Succession had ended, the fangs of the Middle Ages were 
still displayed at the council board of Utrecht. 

In England, the death of Queen Anne terminated the 
reign of the house of Stewart. The Elector of Hanover was 
at once proclaimed and crowned king, with the title of George I . 
This accession of the House of Hanover in the person of the 
great grandson of James I, has been called the greatest miracle 
in English history. Without the slightest domestic or foreign 
disturbance, it took place. Sir Robert Walpole rose rapidly 
to place and power, from First Commissioner of the Treasury 
to Chancellor of the Exchequer. And the founding of Parlia- 
mentary government was thoroughly established. 

In France, events were moving no less swiftly and silently 
toward an age-long climax. Louis XIV was now in his 
decrepitude. As was also the system of absolute government 
which he had maintained for seventy and two years. And now, 
out of the hollowTiess of such a past, the knell sounded in 
his ears and on September 1, 1715, he was called to pay the 
debt of nature. His reign has been styled, the Augustan Age 
of France. And although he was called the Grand Monarch, 
his grandeur was artificial for it was founded upon force, not 
freedom. While Louis XIV lay dying on his magnificent 
couch at Versailles, Charles VI was preparing to celebrate 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 25 

his "Pragmatic Sanction" to the throne of the German 
Empire and the guns of the courageous Charles XII of Sweden 
were thundering defiance at his foes. At this juncture, the 
Russian fleet took possession of the Baltic under Peter the 
Great, making the beginning of Russia's commercial greatness. 

In the summer and winter of 1715, the Russian senate 
was removed from the ancient capital of Moscow to St. 
Petersburg, now Petrograd. 

On the North American Continent, Queen Anne's War 
had been carried on between the Colonies. The Five Nations 
had made a treaty with the French and so took no part. 
Their neutrality protected New York from invasion. But 
New England, again bore the brunt of savage warfare. Remote 
settlements were abandoned. The people had to frequently 
palisade their houses. And often did they work their farms 
with their guns close at hand. 

The first English explorers of the alluvial, attractive 
valley of the Connecticut River, met similar conditions. 
On the high ground overlooking the river, they saw the teepee 
of the Indian Sachem Sowheag, chief of a tribe occupying 
the surrounding hills, then, known as Mattabesett. 

These hill tops, such as Prospect Hill, Timber Hill, 
Portland Heights, are memorial of their former condition. 
They were heavily wooded, while the alluvial lands along the 
Little River and the Connecticut were low and swampy. 
Much of the lowland was too wet and cold to have any attrac- 
tion. The higher land about Hartford, Wethersfield and 
Windsor were the more attractive. Besides, was not Chief 
Sowheag unfriendly toward the white settlers? Unsuitable 
soil and unfriendly savages delayed the settlement of this 
region for over twenty years. 1650 is the earliest authentic 
date of settlement. Future generations will be indebted to 
David Dudley Field of Haddam for his careful chronicle of 
these early days. The citation from his historical gleanings 
that interests us most at this time is that — 

"the earliest remaining entry on the town books, (books of Middletown) 
dated February 2, 1652, is 'a vote for the building of a meeting house'." 

Was there ever a more characteristic act on the part of 
our Puritan ancestors? The earHest provision of many a 
new community was for the religious wants. And has not 
tradition added not a little local color to such an act? How 
often through the recurring years was a certain, vast elm tree 
pointed out, at the entrance of God's Acre, as a reminder of 
the near-by site of the first house for worship of the Eternal 
in this community. 



26 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

This first edifice was only twenty feet square; ten feet 
from sill to plate, and was enclosed with palisades. It stood 
on the open green a little west or northwest of the first English 
graveyard. This site was probably somewhere in the vicinity 
of the Main Street bridge over the Air Line railway. For 
eighteen years this house was used. It then gave place, in 
1680, to another edifice erected near the same site. This loca- 
tion was chosen with a view to accommodating the worshippers 
at Upper Houses. 

That convenience and comfort were the early counsellors 
of our forefathers may be readily recognized. The records of 
their time are replete with evidence. In Abbott's history of 
the "Revolutionary Times," you may read how the cut of 
the winds and the chill of the snows necessitated the erection 
of what was called Sabba' Day Houses. "A group of such 
cabins standing about the meeting house, added not a little 
to the picturesqueness of the spot, and their use conduced 
greatly to the convenience and comfort of the Sabbath wor- 
ship, especially in winter. The family able to keep a Sabba' 
house drove directly thither on Sabbath mornings, warmed 
themselves up by a hot fire without, and quite likely by a hot 
drink within." For in those early days, was it not con- 
sidered a sacrilege to have a fire in the house of God ? 

But convenience and comfort finally won their case and 
a petition by the early settlers of Upper Middletown was 
presented in town meeting asking the "liberty and privilege" 
to build a meeting house. 

"On January^ 18, 1702, O. S. or 1703, N. S., the Town of 
Middletown agreed that the inhabitants of Upper Houses 
might settle a minister and build a meeting house, provided 
they settle a minister within six or at least twelve months 
from that time." 

In May, 1703-4, the new parish of Upper Middletown 
was incorporated by order of the General Court as follows: 

"Be it Therefore Enacted, By this Court and the authoritie 
thereof, and it is enacted: That all those persons that now and here- 
after at any time shall be dwellers and inhabitants on the north side 
of the said riverett in the said towne of Midletown, are and hereafter 
shall be one intire societie and parish by and of themselves, and shall 
have and enjoy all such powers, liberties and privileges, as other 
societies and congregations in this Colonic generally have, or by lawe 
may have, enjoy and use, for the choosing collectors and levying of 
rates and money for the charge, settlement and maintenance of their 
minister, and upholding the publick worship of God among them, 
from time to time as need shall require." 

Again on March 22, 1708-9, the town "granted to David 
Deming twenty acres of land on the north side of the riverlet 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 27 

* * * provided he setteleth and continueth in the work of the 
ministry there, then it shall be his own land. Leut. John 
Savig, Sargt. Daniel White & John Warner Jr. ware chosen 
a comitty to see after and lay it out upon his charg if it may 
be found." But the new parish did not comply with these 
conditions no more than did Mr. Deming meet their require- 
ments . 

"Whereas, At a Town meeting, March 22, 1708-9, the Town 
by a voate granted to Mr. David Deming about twenty acres of land, 
provided that he settle there etc. but Mr. Deming failing, by the 
request of the neighbors on the north side of the riverett att this Town 
meeting January 13, 1712-13, the town by voate grant the same 
priviledge""of land to Mr. Joseph Smith upon the same tearms 
provided that he settles there in the work of the ministry and do 
impower the same comtte. formerly chosen to lay it out on the same 
tearmes as before specified." 

Reduced to a single statement, we find that Town, Court 
and Colonial Assembly, each did their part in the formation 
and maintenance of a separate parish "on north side of the 
riverett" as early as 1703. 

But for obvious reasons, those who were granted the 
"liberty and privilege" to build a meeting house and to pro- 
cure and settle an orthodox minister of the Gospel among 
them, "within the time prescribed" — had failed to do so. 

Consequently, the North Society or the Second Eccl. 
Society of Middletown, was not organized into a separate 
church until January 5, 1715. 

But today, the Second Church of Middletown, now the 
First Church of Cromwell, welcomes you conscious of its 
venerable past and devoutly thankful for the vaster vision 
to be realized through the coming years. 

Although venerable in time, this Church is not among 
the oldest of its faith and order in our Commonwealth. Fifty- 
four Congregational Churches had preceded it. The oldest 
of these being, the First Church of Christ in Hartford, founded 
in 1632. 

In Middlesex County Association alone, there were eight 
churches that antedated our's. These were: Old Saybrook, 
1646; Clinton, 1667; Middletown, First, 1668; Old Lyme, 
1693; Haddam, 1696 and East Haddam, 1704. 

Even the same year that this Church began its life- 
history, there were organized within the Connecticut Colony 
the following sister churches: Greens' Farms, Newtown; 
Pomfret Center and the First Church, Putnam. 

In September 1708, at the call of the General Assembly, 
there met in Old Saybrook, a Congregational Synod of sixteen 



28 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

members which reaffirmed the Savoy Confession of Faith 
and drew up the Saybrook Platform. 

In 1709, the General Association of Connecticut was 
organized. Harvard College was seventy-nine years old and 
Yale had lived but fifteen of her collegiate years, when in the 
year 1715, the Second Church of Upper Middletown was 
organized. In fact, this very year witnessed the last Com- 
mencement of Yale College in Old Saybrook. The Class of 
1716 was the first to graduate from New Haven. 

But what about the attending circumstances and the 
immediate events leading up to the birth of this Church 
whose bi-centennial we now commemorate ? 

Again we must revert to old records : 

"There was but one society in Middletown, for half a century 
after the settlement began. The convenience and friendship of the 
people at the Upper Houses were consulted, by the erection of the 
first two meeting houses near the north end of the city. But the 
inhabitants there had become so numerous, that on the 18th of January, 
1703, the Town agreed, that the people on the north side of little 
River, might settle a minister within six months, or at most twelve 
months from that time, and the Legislature incorporated them as a 
society at their session in May following." "From the time of their 
incorporation, the inhabitants of the Upper Houses appear to have 
maintained public worship among themselves, and for a portion of 
that time, they enjoyed preaching. 

"But twelve years instead of twelve months elapsed, before they 
settled a minister. On January 5, 171.5, the Church was organized 
and the same day the REV. JOSEPH SMITH WAS SETTLED AS 
THEIR FIRST PASTOR." 

Of the twenty-three charter members, all but two, Samuel Hall 
and Samuel Gibson, came from the old church, then known as the 
South Church, now the North Church of Middletown. Twenty- 
one of the following named persons were received into the membership 
by letter and two were received on profession: 

Or as the old record reads: 

"They were taken from the world." 

Capt. John Savage, Widow Nathaniel White, 

Mrs. John Savage, Mr. Joseph White, 

Sergt. Wm. Savage, Mrs. Thomas Stow, Sr., 

Mrs. Wm. Savage, Mrs. Daniel White, Sr., 

Mr. Thomas Ranney, Mrs. Joseph White, 

Mrs. Thomas Ranney, Mrs. Daniel Clark, 

Mr. John Ranney, Mrs. Jonathan Warner, 

Mrs. John Ranney, Mrs. Nathaniel Savage, 

Mr. Joseph Ranney, Widow Shepard, 

Mrs. Joseph Ranney, Samuel Hall, 

Mr. Samuel Stow, Samuel Gibson. 
Mrs. Samuel Stow, 

It may be of more than passing interest here to note that 
in 1715, the First Church of Christ in Middletown, built its 
third Meeting House. Its site was at the head of Church 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 29 

Street — chosen by casting lots — and was the first bviilding 
not built square having the dimensions of 60 x 40 feet. 

This was also the first year of the Rev. Wm. Russell's 
pastorate. He was the elder son of Noadiah Russell, a founder 
and trustee of Yale College and one of the framers of the 
Saybrook Platform. 

It has been well said of these early days: "The ministry 
of the Gospel was the nobility of New England." 

The Rev. Joseph Smith, the first pastor of this Church 
exemplified this high esteem. This was his first and only 
pastorate — for twenty and one years he gave his life to its 
ministry. His parsonage was the present home of Mr. and 
Mrs. W. E. Greaves. Personally, he must have been of high 
intellectual attainments for in the records of "Ancient Weath- 
ersfield," you may read of him ias "among others" "who as 
teachers did good educational work elsewhere in the earlier 
days." He was a graduate of Harvard. 

In the same record, we read that his father was Lieut. 
Philip Smith, a prominent citizen of Hadley (Mass.) — Rep- 
resentative, Deacon, Lieutenant — who died January 10, 
1685, "murdered with a hideous witchcraft," says Cotton 
Mather in his "Magnalia," (pp. 684-686). 

The completion and dedication of the first Meeting House 
here, was at the time of the settlement of the Rev. Joseph 
Smith over this parish. 

This House served the wants of the people until the latter 
part of 1736. As early as the 21st of November, 1734, at 
a regularly warned meeting, whose Moderator was Deacon 
John Wilcox, the "inhabitants voted it was a necessity to 
build a new Meeting House. They adjourned to November 
28 at Sundown." Then, they "voted to build 50 ft. long, 36 
ft. wide, 23 ft. between joints. Roof covered with 18 in. 
shingles. Deacon John Wilcox, Dea. Saml. Gibson and 
Thomas Johnson building committee." 

But it was not until "the latter end of January or 
the beginning of Feby," 1735, that the work actually began. 
And the house was not ready to raise until March of the 
following year. 

The raising of the ponderous timbers for a meeting house 
in those early days, was a formidable undertaking. A com- 
mittee on raising was appointed. (Sergt. Shepherd, Hugh 
White and John Warner.) The parish was divided into three 
parts, and each section directed to furnish dinner on the day 
the committee should order. The people were to furnish 
drinks for the dinners, but the society agreed that what drinks 
were expended in the raising should be borne by the society. 



30 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

So the bottles and jugs passed up and down alternating with 
the braces and pins which fastened the timbers. The one 
loosening the human as the other fastened the timber-joints. 

This second Meeting House stood on Main Street, just 
south of the present Baptist Church. At first it was close to 
the roadway, so that the people dismounted immediately 
upon the steps. In 1813, it was moved back four or five rods 
by permission of the County Court. 

The house was very simple in its construction, though 
massive in frame. There were three entrances, one each on 
the north, east and south sides, opening directly into the 
audience room without a vestibule. It had two rows of win- 
dows. Inside, there was a gallery on three sides, stairways 
leading to it, not inclosed; square pews and a lofty pulpit 
with sounding board over it. 

It was the Meeting House. The place where on the Sab- 
bath Day from north and south, east and west, the tribes 
came up — the whole population — to worship God and meet 
each other. It was the day of greetings, the social exchange, 
the news-day. 

All waited for the parson to emerge from the parsonage 
in gown and bands and powdered wig, three-cornered hat, 
knee breeches, silk stockings and silver shoe buckles. The 
congregation couldn't begin their worship till he passed 
through the massive double door with iron handled latch 
and into the high pulpit with its carved work of grapes and 
pomegranates under the great sounding board. 

There is no stove. The frosty air of this new meeting 
house was only mitigated by the women's foot stoves and the 
cracking together of frozen boot heels. Even in inclement 
weather, the "bread was frozen at the Lord's Table." Slum- 
bering and levity were severely rebuked. The tith.ng man 
with his stick having a rabbit's foot at one end and a rabbit's 
or fox's tail at the other, was ready to tap the mischievous 
boy or the slumbering matron or man. The former with the 
heavier end and the latter with the fleeced end. The congre- 
gation were seated according to age and social standing. 
Slaves were relegated to the rear gallery; the deacons and 
their families occupied front pews; single men were disposed 
on one side of the edifice and spinsters and maidens on the 
other. 

During the year 1825, the inside of this building was 
remodeled by closing the north and south entrance, rnaking 
a vestibule from the east side of the audience room beneath 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 31 

the front gallery and replacing the squares with narrow pews 
in the center of the house. 

This Meeting House was the sacred, hallowed meeting 
place for God and His people for over a century. Not until 
1840 was the present edifice erected. That God owned and 
blessed both people and pastor during these early years is 
evident even from the meager records we possess. 

It is recorded that 75 persons became members of the 
church during this period, of whom 53 made public profession 
of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

Two years after the death of Mr. Smith, the Rev. Edward 
Eells was ordained and installed as pastor, September 6, 
1738, and died in the pastorate, October 12, 1776, after 
thirty-eight years of service. He was the son of Rev. Nathaniel 
Eells of Scituate, Mass., and during his pastorate in the Upper 
Houses acquired considerable renown by a pamphlet on the 
Wallingford Case. 

For several years he was trustee of Yale College, where 
three of his sons were educated. They were later ministers 
living worthily of the honorable and distinguished ancestry 
that was their's. For was it not soon (July 24, 1740) after 
the Rev. Edward Eells came to Upper Middletown that he 
married into one of the most prominent families of the Con- 
necticut Colony? 

His first wife and the mother of his children was Martha, 
daughter of Hon. Ozias Pitkin of East Hartford, a member of 
the Governor's Council for nineteen years. He was a son of 
William Pitkin the progenitor of the Pitkin family, who was 
bom near London in 1635 and came to Hartford in 1659. 
He filled many public offices with ability and was conspicuous 
and influential in the affairs of the colony. 

In those days, there was no family in the colony of higher 
rank and social standing according to the current English 
ideas. 

Mr. Eells appears to have been gracious and courtly and 
as much interested in state affairs as he was in pastoral work. 
That his patriotism and religion were worthy of the confidence 
of mankind and the service of the Eternal may be judged by 
his repeated appointment in the Colonial army as Chaplain. 

He first served as chaplain in the Second Regiment of 
the Colonial army in 1758 in the campaign of General Israel 
Putnam against the Indians of New England. And again 
in 1759, he was appointed chaplain in the arm}- by the General 
Association of Connecticut, and served under General Wolf 
at the seige and capture of Quebec. 



32 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

One of the early tasks of his ministry was the restoring 
and the tabulating of the records of his predecessor. He made 
a canvass of the parish, recording the baptized children — of 
which he found no record — by families. He baptized fifty- 
one adults and children who are described as servants or 
Negro slaves, all during the first thirty years of his pastorate. 

The first baptism recorded is that of "Admah, Joseph 
Smith's Negro man." And in a will executed by Mr. Joseph 
Smith, son of Rev. Joseph Smith, the first pastor of the church, 
dated September 20, 1768, there is the following bequest: 

After naming his five sons and giving them his real and 
personal estate, he says: "I give them equally my negro-man 
Cloip or Peter. But they or either of them shall not sell him 
out of the family unless by his own choice, and if he should 
live to want support more than he can earn by his own labors, 
he shall be cornfortably provided for by my sons at equal 
expense, if they don't otherwise agree." 

"Jiily 31, 1768," is the last known baptismal record of 
this Church pertaining to slaves and reads: "Gift-child of 
Bristow and Poll was baptized." "January 13, 1744, Samuel 
Eells (afterward, the Rev. Samuel) son of Edward and 
Martha Eells;" "Peter son of Mr. Frary's Negro woman 
Peg," were baptized. Apparently there was no race prejudice 
in these early days. 

Under date of November 7, 1770, Mr. Eells records the 
marriage of two of his sons as follows: 

"The Rev. James Eells and Mrs. Mary Johnson were 
married." 

"The Rev. Samuel Eells and Mrs. Hannah Butler were 
married." 

On March 3, 1773, he records his son John's marriage 
as follows: 

"John Eells and Elizabeth Lord were married." 

This was his usual form. His sense of propriety evidently 
led him to dignify Mary Johnson and Hannah Butler as 
"Mistress" because they were elevated to the position of 
wife to a minister of the Gospel — again the New England 
nobility was to the forefront of his thought. 

During Mr. Eells' pastorate, a committee, somewhat 
like the present standing committee, was appointed. The 
first notice pertaining to this committee is under date of 
November 28, 1754, when Francis Wilcox, Hugh White, 
Deacon Isaac White and John Gibson were named as com- 
mittee and "it was voted that the special business of this 
committee is to admonish in a brotherly way those who don't 
walk orderly or as becomes the Gospel, and those who are 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 33 

supposed to have committed any offence." This committee 
has been continued with changes as to its duties from time 
to time, until the present. The only exception was during 
the pastorate of Mr. Williams. But its use was revived by 
Mr. Crocker. 

During the thirty-eight years of the Rev. Mr. Eells* 
pastorate, he received into the fellowship of this Church, 
360 persons of whom 116 came on profession of their faith 
in the Lord Jesus. 

Although Mr. Eells evinced so much of New England 
aristocracy in his career and character, the Rev. Gershom 
Bulkeley showed even more. 

Ordained and installed pastor of this Church, June 17, 
1778, he resigned the pastorate July 7, 1808, having served 
the church and community, twenty-eight years. 

The Rev. Dr. G. S. F. Savage, the beloved son of this 
Church and pioneer of Chicago Congregationalism, still 
retains vivid recollections of this early pastor. He tells us: 
"I was then a small boy and often saw him in his home which 
was a very large house opposite my father's. He was a gen- 
tleman of the old school, venerable in his appearance; had 
the reputation of being an able preacher, but aristocratic and 
domineering." He dressed handsomely and carried a tall 
cane ornamented with a silk tassel. 

This aristocratic strain may not surprise us when we 
recall that Mr. Bulkeley' s ancestors can be traced back to 
eleven generations of English Barons and five generations of 
rectors and pastors. 

Beginning with Baron Robert de Bulkeley, A. D. 1199, 
there were eleven successive generations of barons. Then, the 
son of Baron Thomas and Elizabeth G. Bulkeley became the 
Rev. Edward Bulkeley, Rector of Odell, England. His 
descendant, Rev. Peter Bulkeley, was one of the Bulkeley's 
who emigrated to America. He became pastor at Concord, 
Mass., and his son Gershom, became the Rev. Dr. Gershom 
Bulkeley, pastor first at New London and then at Wethers- 
field. He was a graduate of Harvard College, 1655, and mar- 
ried 1659, Sarah, the daughter of President Charles Chauncey 
of Harvard. Their fifth child was Edward Bulkeley who 
became a prominent citizen of Rocky Hill. His grave is 
marked with a table monument on which he is styled "Cap- 
tain" and "Esquire". The Bulkeley Arms are also sculptured 
on this monument. His son, Gershom, married Thankful 
Belden of Wethersfield, and they became the parents of the 
Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, born December 3, 1747; graduated 



34 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

from Yale College 1770 and settled at the North Parish of 
Middletown — now Cromwell — in June, 1778. 

In the year 1800, Gershom Bulkeley of Wethersfield, 
"For divers good causes and considerations and more especially 
for the Natural Lx)ve, Good Will and Affection, which I have 
and bare unto my son Gershom," deeded a piece of land 
"including the house lot where he now dwells." This is the 
present home of Mr. Merrill Brooks. 

In 1802, Rev. Gershom B. disposed of this property and 
acquired the Jonathan Stow "Mansion House," where he 
resided until his death. This stood where Mr. Wallace Pier- 
son now lives. 

During the twenty-eight years of the Rev. Mr. Bulkeley's 
pastorate, he received into the fellowship of this Church, 256 
persons, of whom 69 came on profession of their faith in the 
Lord Jesus. 

Mr. Bulkeley's pastorate, it is said, terminated under 
the stress of strong feelings; regretted by him later on. _ 

"The close of his pastorate marks the first period in the 
history of this Church. It was the period of organization. 
Great stress had been laid upon some sort of connection with 
the church. Everybody must be baptized. One hardly was 
fit for civil position unless a church member. Some cases 
were even declared ineligible. Great emphasis was laid upon 
outward conformity to the principles of the Gospel and little 
emphasis upon character-creation or spiritual life." 

The Door of Entrance into this second period of the 
Church's life was the annulling of the "Half-way" Covenant. 

The Baptismal or "Half-way" Covenant did not entitle 
those who took it to the Communion. It gave them the 
privilege of having their children baptized. This privilege 
was forfeited if at any time the "Half-way" covenanters were 
guilty of unchristian conduct and could only be restored by 
confession and promise of amendment. The "Half-way" 
covenanter could be received into full Communion by making 
confession of unchristian conduct and accepting the Full 
Communion Covenant. This act of confession was known 
as "rendering Christian satisfaction for sin."_ In popular 
parlance it was called, "walking the broad aisle,'' because 
those who made confession walked into the broad aisle of the 
church while the minister read their confessions. 

The Rev. Joshua L. Williams made the discontinuance 
of this Covenant a condition of his settlement as pastor of 
this Church. 

On the 7th of March, 1810, the following vote was 
adopted: "Voted, That the former practise of requiring a 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 35 

public confession known as, 'Satisfaction for Sin' be abolished." 

For the lights and shadows of the Rev. Mr. Williams' 
pastorate, may we again revert to the recollections of Dr. 
Savage? He writes: 

"I have vivid recollections of him as my pastor. He was 
a graduate of Yale College in 1805; was settled over what is 
now the Cromwell Church in 1809, and died in 1832. His 
ministry was very popular and blessed with several revivals ; 
notably those of 1814; 1817-18 — aided by Rev. Dr. Nettle- 
ton — and again in 1831. He established the first Sunday 
School in the parish, and before that drilled the children in 
the Westminster Catechism. The first Bible I ever owned, 
I received from him as a prize for repeating all the questions 
and answers of the catechism in the church without a mistake. 
He was a scholarly man, much interested in the schools — 
was a chief organizer of the Friendly Association. He was 
associated also with Dr. Calvin Chapin and Dr. Lyman 
Beecher, as pioneers in the Temperance reformation. I 
remember well his reading on six successive Sunday evenings. 
Dr. Beecher' s six famous lectures on Tem.perance and the 
excitement which followed. He had two sons, John and Joshua 
who were schoolmates of mine. John entered Yale College, 
but died before graduating and was buried in the same grave 
with his father, who died in 1832." 

During the twenty-three years of the Rev. Mr. Williams' 
pastorate, he received into fellowship of this Church, 231 
persons, of whom 210 came on profession of their faith in 
the Lord Jesus. These were surely Pentecostal Days. 

Two marked Colonial traits dominated these early days : 
The New England aristocracy that asserted itself in the 
church government when it was voted as early as July 4, 
1740, "To seat according to Age, Honor and Interest in the 
Meeting House!" And the New England love of culture, 
illustrated by the formation of the "Friendly Association" 
and the establishment of the Academy. 

The Rev. Zebulon Crocker followed Mr. Williams in 
the pastorate. He was a native of Willington, Conn., a 
graduate of Yale College in 1827, and was the fifth young man 
to be ordained by this Church to the work of the Gospel 
ministry ._ For fourteen years he so served this Church and 
community as to be remembered as "an able and instructive 
preacher and a faithful, loving and devoted Pastor." That 
his sermons were sound and thoughtful rather than brilliant, 
may be judged from the fact that he told Dr. Israel P. Warren 
"that he hardly allowed himself so much liberty of embellish- 
ment as to say 'the silver moon.' " And yet, was it not dur- 



36 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

ing his pastorate that a new era was introduced and a decided 
improvement in the outward condition of the Church's hfe 
consummated? 

Three important enterprises were successfully carried 
out under his auspices: (1) The purchase of a Parsonage lot 
and the erection of a residence for the pastor; (2) The organi- 
zation and establishment of a village academy of a high grade, 
with an edifice suitable for both school and chapel purposes; 
(3) and the erection of a church edifice according to the best 
style of that day. 

The building of this last named structure was in 1840. 
The site selected was owned by Mr. W. C. Redfield, of New 
York. (Grandfather of the Hon. Wm. C. Redfield, Secretary 
of Commerce in President Wilson's Cabinet.) Mr. Redfield 
had reserved for years this site as a possible homestead. But 
learning that the majority had united upon this location, he 
generously surrendered it at a low price. Rarely ever within 
so small a parish have three enterprises, contributing so largely 
to the welfare of the community, been accomplished in so 
short a time. The whole community was put to the test, but 
it was bravely and successfully bom. No parish quarrel 
resulted. Even the drawing of the stone for the new church 
building, was made a holiday occasion. The stone was drawn 
across the river from Portland quarry by voluntary labor in 
the winter of 1840, and Captain Stow and his family provided 
hot coffee and huge fires for the teamsmen. 

But the event never to be forgotten was the last sermon 
in the old white meeting house on the green. The hymns 
were sung, the prayers were offered, and then the venerable 
Pastor Crocker announced his text: "If Thy presence go not 
with us, take us not up hence." It was a profound historical 
discourse. The last prayer was said, the benediction spoken 
in tears, and the history of the old white meeting house was 
at an end. The old name, so beloved by many, had been 
outgrown in the advance of civilization. It was now "the 
church." 

The exercises of the dedication evening were long remem- 
bered. Mr. Crocker was again preacher and, with profound 
solemnity, repeated his text from the prayer of Solomon at 
the dedication of the Temple to Jehovah: 

"Now, therefore, arise, O Lord God, into Thy resting place, 
Thou and the ark of Thy strength." 

The choir sang the dedication hymn : 

"Arise, O King of Grace, arise, 
And enter to Thy rest." 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 37 

A large and deeply solemn audience were present. All 
rejoiced at the completion of a task which had enlisted 
all the zeal and ability, the hopes and the prayers, of both 
pastor and people. 

During Mr. Crocker's pastorate, this Church gave to 
the Gospel ministry and to the work of the Kingdom of God, 
two of her sons, George S. F. Savage and William R. Stocking. 

To have come West from Connecticut as a young man 
of thirty with a home missionary's commission to choose any 
destitute field between the Ohio River and Rocky Mountains, 
to have found the open door in a little Illinois church, to have 
the missionary parish the center of movements that led to 
the founding of Beloit College and Chicago Theological Semi- 
nary, to have been in touch with Pilgrim Churches of the 
Middle West in secretarial service for the Boston Tract 
Society and the Sunday School and Building Society, to have 
been the man behind the financial problem of the Chicago 
Seminary for fifteen years, to have lived in close friendship 
with D wight L. Moody and been the confidant and adviser 
of a group of Chicago's captains of industry when foimdations 
were being laid in church and allied institutions, to have kept 
in old age — his ninety-eighth year — the faith of an uncon- 
querable optimist — these things are a part of the life experi- 
ence of Dr. George Slocum Folger Savage, the grand old man 
of the Chicago fellov/ship, who was ordained and married in 
this Church on September 28, 1847. 

Born the same year in which the American Board began 
its world-wide mission for the coming of the Kingdom of God 
among men, William R. Stocking used to playfully remark 
that he was its twin brother. 

While a student in the Academy at Munson, Mass., he 
received an earnest appeal from the American Board for well 
qualified teachers for the Sandwich Islands. So deeply was 
the soul of the young student stirred that he offered himself 
as a teacher for that field and was accepted. But before he 
was ready to depart, another appeal from the Nestorian 
Mission for a superintendent of educational work, led him 
to accept that as his life-work. 

On the 7th of January, he sailed from Boston for his 
field of labor. At once he devoted himself with characteristic 
energy to the mastery of the language and his work as a 
teacher. He continued in his work with untiring devotion 
and energy till the failure of his health in 1853 compelled him 
to return to his native land. He died the 30th of April, 1854. 
But his memory bums more and more brightly on the heart- 
altars of this community with the passing years, for he lit 



38 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

the fires of missionary zeal and devotion in the Bible School 
of this Church. For was it not as superintendent of the 
school that he enlisted every child, every member in giving 
a "cent a month for the cause of missions?" 

Dr. Justin Perkins wrote of him from Persia: "Mr. 
Stocking had accomplished a great work before he left us. 
Through his faithful labors and his fervent prayers, under the 
Divine blessing, much people was added unto the Lord." 

During the fourteen years of the Rev. Mr. Crocker's 
pastorate, he received into the fellowship of this Church, 144 
persons of whom 95 came on confession of their faith in the 
Lord Jesus. 

A little over eight years after the dedication of this present 
house for worship, the church again ordained another young 
man to the ministry. The Rev. George A. Bryan began his 
pastorate here, June 13, 1849 and continued to so serve the 
church and community a little over eight years. He closed 
his work October 20, 1857. He was the sixth young man set 
apart by this Church for the work of the Gospel ministry. 

During these years the church bmlding remained about 
as it was left by the builders. Previous to Mr. Bryan's corn- 
ing, the young people held a fair, expecting to reaHze from it 
enough to finish off the basement. Their expectations did 
not mature. The social meetings were continued in the upper 
room of the academy until about 1874. Then, the present 
church parlors were provided for. 

Partly due to the missionary zeal inspired by the pastor's 
^ife — the granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. Calvin Chapin of 
Rocky Hill — and partly to the ready and earnest response 
of such young people as Misses Mary and Hattie Savage, 
the latter Mrs. Wheelock,— the Ladies' Foreign Missionary 
Association was reorganized. The zeal and earnestness of this 
society has continued unabated until this day. It has been 
said: Few women, if any, did more than Mrs. George A. 
Bryan to emancipate the abilities and enlarge the vision of 
the women of this community. 

During the eight years of the Rev. Mr. Bryan's pastorate, 
he received into the fellowship of this Church, 67 persons of 
whom 33 came on confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

The closing of this pastorate marks the end of the second 
period of this Church's history. // was the period of revival. 

These years correspond to the period of the greatest 
revival activity known in our country. It was the time pi 
Nettleton, Finney and their co-workers. And the brief 
period of forty-five years, including the pastorates of Messrs. 
Williams, Crocker and Bryan, found this Church receiving 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 39 

into its fellowship 442 persons, of whom 338 had confessed 
the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. 

The Rev. Erastus Colton supplied the pulpit of this 
Church a short time after Mr. Bryan's resignation. January 1, 
1858, he was called here from revival work in West Haven 
through the advice of Dr. Hutchinson. He continued his 
helpful ministry until after the commemoration of the Lord's 
Supper in May of the same year. 

The Rev. James A. Clark was the next pastor. He began 
his work June 16, 1858, and was dismissed December 2, 1863. 
He came recommended as a successful missionary in Wiscon- 
sin. He proved to be a good pastor to this people. During 
his pastorate of five years, he received into the fellowship of 
this Church 62 persons, of whom 47 came on confession of 
their faith in the LxDrd Jesus. 

For a brief year, from March, 1864, to April 1, 1865, the 
Rev. William K. Hall served this Church as its pastor. But 
in that brief time, he won the affection of many of the young 
people, an affection that has endured the test of many years. 

Mr. Hall was a classmate of the Rev. Dr. Joseph H. 
Twitchell, Hartford. And, like Dr. Twitchell, he was a 
chaplain in the Civil War, serving with the Seventeenth 
C. V. for about a year. Later on he was chaplain of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston and 
president of the board of trustees of Washington's Head- 
quarters at Newburgh, where for thirty-four years he was 
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. During his pas- 
torate here the Rev. Mr. Hall received into the fellowship 
of this Church 5 persons, all of whom came on confession of 
their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

In the closing year of our Great Civil War, on November 
23, this Church ordained another young man, Horatio O. 
Ladd. He was the seventh and the last to date, to be so set 
apart for the work of the Gospel ministry . 

Mr. Ladd's ministry here was a little over two years in 
duration. His most lasting work for this Church and com- 
munity was along educational lines. For some time he was 
in charge of the academy and is remembered in his pulpit- 
ministry as one having a prepossessing personality. 

In later years, he became an Episcopalian and carried 
on a very successful mission for that Church in Mexico. 

During the two years of the Rev. Mr. Ladd's pastorate, 
he received into the fellowship of this Church, 34 persons 
of whom 23 came on confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

The Rev. Thomas M. Miles began his ministry here in 
November of 1868, and closed it in September, 1870. The 



40 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

most lasting impression of his personality upon the life of 
the community was his enlistment of the non-church goer 
in the interests of the Kingdom of God. 

During the two years of the Rev. Mr. Miles' pastorate 
there were added to the membership of this Church 20 per- 
sons, of whom 10 came on confession of their faith in the Lord 
Jesus. 

Following the completion of Mr. Miles' ministry, the 
Rev. A. S. Cheesboro supplied the pulpit for four months. 
But it was not until November, 1871, that the Rev. A. C. 
Hurd began his pastorate which culminated in 1873. 

It was said of this pastor that he might have written 
his biography in the words of Amos of Tekoa: "I am no 
prophet, neither am I a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, 
and a dresser of sycamore trees." 

During the two years of his ministry here, the Rev. Mr. 
Hurd received into the fellowship of this Church 22 persons, 
of whom 10 came on confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

In February, 1874, the Rev. Myron S. Dudley began his 
pastorate. The deep appreciation with which his eleven 
years of ministry is held in memory can be best expressed from 
the records of this Church at the time of his death. 

"His earnest zeal for all that is best in community life — 
for temperance, for morality, for the promotion of intelligent 
and effective interest in the care and beautifying of the town — - 
as well as for his faithful ministrations as pastor, have laid 
the whole town under lasting obligation to him." 

Two marked characteristics gave Mr. Dudley's ministry 
perennial power. Their beginnings date from his youth. 

His Militant Christianity. The closing weeks of his senior 
year in Williams College, were shadowed by the ravages of war. 
A brother was severely wounded in the battle of Gettysburg 
and another brother died of typhoid fever in Kentucky on the 
day of Mr. Dudley's graduation. This prevented him from 
fulfilling his appointment on the commencement program. 
In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the Fifth Vermont Vet- 
eran Volunteer Infantry, and during his first year passed 
through the grades of sergeant and first lieutenant to captain. 

He was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May, 
1864, participated in Sheridan's brilliant Shenandoah cam- 
paign, served through the war and was honorably discharged 
with the volunteer army, in June, 1865. 

Although Mr. Dudley rarely ever referred to his "army 
life," the experience dominated and directed his whole career. 
' His Literary Ability. His expression of thought was logi- 
cal and laconic. And had he chosen to convey his message 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 41 

to men through the Editorial columns of some daily rather 
than through the call of the Evangel of Jesus, he would have 
met with large success. 

There are two pieces of his work which remain as abiding 
witnesses of his ability, namely, his history of the "Class 
of Sixty-three, Williams College," and his "History of Crom- 
well" (this town) under date of 1880. 

As one of the children of his ministry, Mr. Dudley bap- 
tized and later received into the Church, at sixteen years of 
age, Miss Emeda Sage. 

On November 10, 1908, the Cumberland Association of 
Congregational Ministers, at Portland, Me., granted Miss 
Sage a license to preach. And today we rejoice with her in 
the blessings of her ministry to the churches of West Minot, 
West Newfield and now Springfield, Me., as our home mis- 
sionary. 

During the eleven years of the Rev. Mr. Dudley's pas- 
torate, he received into the fellowship of this Church, 74 per- 
sons, of whom 42 came on confession of their faith in the Lord 
Jesus. 

June 14, 1885, marks the beginning of the longest pas- 
torate of recent years. It was the ministry of the Rev. Henry 
G. Marshall that then began and continued for nineteen 
years, his resignation taking effect July 31, 1904. 

Again this Church was served by one who had first served 
his beloved land in the dark days of the Rebellion. Enlisting 
August 2, 1862, as Sergeant in Company E, Volunteer Infan- 
try, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, Company E, Con- 
necticut Volunteers (colored troops) on February 16, 1864, 
and became captain of the same company on January 31, 
1865. He was honorably discharged from the Volunteer 
Army October 24, 1865. But again in 1913, the State of 
Connecticut needed his services as chaplain of the House of 
Representatives. 

At the opening of Mr. Marshall's ministry and through- 
out the nineteen years of its duration, both pastor and people 
responded in many ways to the manifold activities enlisting 
the strength and sympathy of the modem Christian worker. 

One of the first expressions of this modem day was the 
installing in 1887 of the present pipe organ valued at $2,000. 
This was the gracious gift of Mr. Frederick Wilcox. Recently 
our Church has placed upon the organ a plate commemorative 
of this gift. 

It seemed as if the spirit of the first century of this 
Church's life had become reincarnated in the quickened 
Civic Conscience and Christian Culture. The quickened 



42 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

civic conscience was especially manifested in the organization 
of the Law and Order League in which Mr. Marshall was an 
active leader for three years. This League after a hard fought 
battle, settled the Saloon Question in Cromwell for years to 
come. 

The Christian culture was manifested in two marked 
wa^^s: in the organization of a Cradle Roll in the Bible School 
under the leadership of Mrs. E. S. Coe, and in the organiza- 
tion of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 
under the guidance of the pastor. 

Besides all this, a century-long influence came to fullest 
fruition. The old-time debating society, the Friendly Asso- 
ciation of 1810, eventuated in the organization of the Belden 
Library Association on February 28, 1888. And its first 
officers were: Rev. H. G. Marshall, President; George 
Gillum, Vice President; F. W. Bliss, Secretary, and Arthur 
Boardman, Treasurer. 

During the Rev. Mr. Marshall's pastorate, he received 
into the fellowship of this Church 152 persons, of whom 110 
came on confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

The Rev. Frederic M. Hollister succeeded to the pastorate 
on September 4, 1904, and resigned his ministry here on May 1, 
1909. 

Like his predecessor, Mr. Hollister found this people 
responsive to the many modem activities enlisting the civic 
and Christian interests. The most pronounced and perma- 
nent of these activities were: 

The organization of the Men's Bible Class and Brother- 
hood, the Earnest Workers Society of young women, the 
Missionary Study Classes, "Aliens or Americans," were car- 
ried out very successfully, and the Knights of King Arthur 
was conducted with increasing interest. 

The Bible School celebrated its Ninetieth Anniversary 
April 28, 1907. The Christian Endeavor Society purchased a 
piano with money bequeathed affectionately to the memory 
of Miss Mattie Frisbie and Mr. Harry Frisbie. 

In 1907, the marble baptismal font now in use was 
dedicated — 

"In Memory of 

Lewis Edward and Katherine 

Infant children of 

Edward S. and Elizabeth S. Coe." 

their loving gift to this Church. 

And lastly, but not least, the Parsonage was thoroughly 
renovated and improved and the church building was much 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 43 

improved with a slate roof, interior decorations, electric 
lights, basement cemented and exterior painted. 

The rededication services were held the morning and 
evening of September 6, 1908. 

The latter part of this pastorate, at the suggestion of the 
pastor, the first committee was appointed to collect data for 
the Two Hundredth Anniversary. 

From May 5 to 14, 1907, Union Revival Meetings were 
held under the leadership of Rev. D. S. Toy, a Chapman 
worker. And the pastor was given the great joy of receiving 
into the fellowship of this Church some of the strong men 
and women of the community. 

During the nearly five years of the Rev. Mr. Hollister's 
pastorate, he received into the fellowship of the Church 74 
persons, of whom 46 came on confession of their faith in the 
Lord Jesus. 

The present pastor, the Rev. Homer Wesley Hildreth, 
is the fifteenth minister in the pastoral succession. He began 
his ministry here on July 1, 1909. But to chronicle the bless- 
ings of these years, together as pastor and people, would be 
more fitting for another than the author of this historic sketch. 

May it not be enough to add, that during these brief 
years, it has been my sacred joy to welcome into the fellow- 
ship of the Kingdom of God here, 49 persons, of whom 21 
came on confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 

Up to the date of this writing, two of the former pastors 
are living: the Rev. Henry G. Marshall, Milford, Conn., 
and the Rev. Frederic M. Hollister, Mystic, Conn. 

The others have entered into the eternal inheritance 
which is prepared for all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ 
and have labored acceptably for him. 

During the two centuries of the Church's life there have 
been three marked periods of progress and power: namely 

The Period of Organization from 1715 to 1808. 
During this era there were three pastorates, that of the Rev. 
Joseph Smith, 21 years service, 75 additions, of whom 53 
were on profession; the Rev. Edward Eells, 38 years service, 
360 additions, of whom 116 were on profession, and the Rev. 
Gershom Bulkeley, 28 years service, 256 additions, of whom 
69 were on profession. 

The Period of Revival from 1808 to 1857. During this 
era there were also three pastorates, that of the Rev. Joshua 
L. Williams, 23 years service, 231 additions, of whom 210 
were on profession; the Rev. Zebulon Crocker, 14 years 
service, 144 additions, of whom 95 were on profession; and 



44 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

the Rev. George A. Bryan, 8 years service, 67 additions, of 
whom 33 were on profession. 

The Period of Wide-spread Activities from 1857 to 
1915. During this era there were nine pastorates, that of 
the Rev. James A. Clark, 5 years service, 62 additions, of 
whom 47 were on confession; the Rev. Wm. K. Hall, 1 year's 
service, 5 additions, of whom 5 were on confession; the Rev. 
H. O. Ladd, 2 years' service, 34 additions, of whom 23 were 
on confession; the Rev. T. M. Miles, 2 years' service, 20 
additions, of whom 10 were on confession; the Rev. A. C. 
Hurd, 2 years' service, 22 additions, of whom 10 were on con- 
fession; the Rev. M. S. Dudley, 11 years' service, 74 addi- 
tions, of whom 42 were on confession; the Rev. H. G. Marshall, 
19 years' service, 152 additions, of whom 110 were on con- 
fession; the Rev. F. M. HoUister, 5 years' service, 74 additions, 
of whom 46 were on confession, and the Rev. H. W. Hildreth, 
6 years' service, 49 additions, of whom 21 were on con- 
fession. 

The activities of this period, and those culminating 
during this era, are: The Saturday evening Prayer Meeting, 
held alternately in the homes of Deacon Rufus Sage and Mr. 
Samuel Wilcox, "till about 1826;" later in the Treat Home- 
stead. Then in the academy, and since 1874, in the church 
building. 

The Friendly Association, organized in 1810. 

The Sunday School, organized in 1817. 

The Gentleman's Foreign Miss. Association, 1834. 

The Ladies' Foreign Miss. Association, 1834. 

The Monthly Missionary Concert from 1834 to 1875. 

The Y. P. S. C. E., organized in 1886. 

The Earnest Workers, organized in 1904. 

The Knights of the Order of King Arthur, organized 
1905. 

The Men's Brotherhood, organized in 1906. 

The Ladies' Aid Society, organized in 1891. 

The Junior Brotherhood, organized in 1913. 

The first period of 87 pastoral years brought 238 into the 
church on profession, the second period of 45 pastoral years 
brought 338 into the church on profession, and the third 
period of 52 pastoral years brought 294 into the church on 
confession. 

The total number of members enrolled by this Church 
during the two centuries of its life is 1,625 persons, of whom 
890 were received into the Kingdom of God on "profession" 
or "confession" of their faith in the Lord Jesus. 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 45 



The records of the past two centuries also reports that 
there have been 26 deacons, nearly double the number of 
pastors during the same period. To recall their names is 
to remember those much honored and beloved. The complete 
roll is as follows : 



Names. 

Samuel Hall, 
W. Savage, 
S. Stow, 
J. Wilcox. 
S. Gipson, 
S. Shepherd. 
I. White. 
W. Savage, 
T. Johnson, 
J. Kirby, 
S. Sage, 
T. Gipson, 

A. Sage, 

J. Hubbard, 

B. Parmelee, 
R. Sage, 

J. R. Wilcox, 
I. Sage, 
R. Warner, 
J. Stevens, 
G. H. Butler, 
R. B. Savage, 
E. S. Coe, 
A. N. Pierson, 
E. C. Bailey, 
E. H. King, 



Appointed. 

Feb. 10, 1716 
Feb. 10. 1716 



Dec. 3, 1745 
Jan. 15. 1749 



Ceased to act. 



Remarks. 



Jan. 

Nov. 

Jan. 

Jan. 

Feb. 

Dec. 

Mar. 

July 

Nov. 

Oct. 

Jan. 

Sep. 

July 

Apr. 

Nov. 

May 

Dec. 

Jan. 



9, 1766 
29, 1770 
26, 1775 
14, 1784 

22, 1790 
14, 1807 

23, 1810 
1817 

11, 1822 

29, 1826 
4, 1839 
1, 1843 

6, 1862 

30, 1875 
4, 1887 
4, 1888 

30, 1904 

7, 1906 



Jan. 


25, 


Sep. 


28. 


May 


13. 


Mar. 


18. 


Apr. 


9, 


June 


27, 


Dec. 


26, 


Sep. 


12, 


June 


7, 


Mar. 


23, 


Mar. 


23, 


Aug. 


23, 


Apr. 


6, 


Mar 


13, 


Jan. 


4, 


Sep. 


30, 


Sep. 


1, 


Feb. 


5, 


Dec. 


11, 


Sep. 


20, 



Acting 



1727 

1741 

1751 Died, Age 68 

1748 Died. Age 76 

1750 

1769 Died, Age 71 

1774 Died, Age 74 

1774 Died, Age 56 

1783 Died, Age 64 

1795 Died, Age 74 

1810 Resigned 

1810 Resigned 

1808 Died, Age 63 

1822 Resigned 

1826 Died, Age 49 

1839 Resigned 

1861 Died, Age 75 

1843 Resigned 

1875 Resigned 

1905 Died, Age 85 

1887 Died, Age 75 



Acting 

Dec. 29, 1912 



Resigned 
Resigned 



What shall we say, what shall we do, 'compassed about 
with so great a cloud of witnesses? Shall we not begin the 
new century this day as the fathers began? Begin with the 
Lord Jesus Christ. "Let us then lay aside every weight, 
and the sin that doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience 
the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and 
Finisher of our faith." Then, in the new century, we shall 
see Truth in the Book-Bible and in the World-Bible. We 
shall proclaim our visions of the Truth as God's prophets, 
we shall bear men's sins as His cross-bearers, our Creed 
becoming not only a test but a testimony. Our Religion not 
only Believed but Be-lived as we work out what we pray and 
pray out what we sing, as we daily live the prayer of New 
England's Prophet-Bard, Whittier: 



46 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

Our fathers' God! From out whose hand 
The centuries fall like grains of sand. 
We meet today, united, free. 
And loyal to our land and Thee, 
We thank Thee for the era done 
And trust Thee for the opening one. 

O make Thou us through centuries long, 
In peace secure, in justice strong; 
Around our gift of freedom draw 
The safeguards of our righteous law; 
And, cast in some diviner mold, 
Let the new cycle shame the old." 

Most appropriately did the congregation then unite in 
singing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds, Our Hearts in Chris- 
tian Love." 

Mrs. Edward S. Coe read a paper recalling the beginnings 
and the blessings of the Missionary zeal that has dominated the 
life of this Church for many years. She said: 

This is Dr. Gordon's reply to the question, "What are 
Foreign Missions?" 

"The flying shuttle that weaves, and weaves, and weaves, 
the seamless robe of the Lord Jesus, until it is ample enough 
to cover those at home, and those abroad; till it is great 
enough to overshadow our entire humanity with the sense of 
the Infinite compassion and the Eternal Love." What more 
fitting words than these to begin this report of faithful work 
done by the women of this old historic church for more than 
eighty years. 

The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the First 
Congregational Church of Cromwell was first named the 
"Ladies' Association for Foreign Missions in Middletown 
Upper Houses," organized, September, 1834. Then follows 
the Constitution, composed of five articles, and the following 
officers: Mrs. Elizabeth Crocker, President, Mrs. Mary W. 
Warner, Vice President and Mrs. Margaret Sage, Secretary 
and Treasurer. 

Mrs. Crocker, wife of Mr. Zebulon Crocker, who for 
many years was an efficient pastor of this Church, survived 
her husband for thirty years, making her home in Cromwell 
so long as she lived. She was a woman of sterling worth, 
strictly conscientious, and reported as being an excellent 
organizer. Her religious fervor and reverence for the Mis- 
sionary Society may be appreciated by this little incident 
given by one who well remembers her activities. While hold- 
ing the regular monthly meeting in one of the homes, the 
hostess requested that the ladies should remain after the 
closing exercises to congratulate a bride and groom who 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 47 

chanced to be visiting there at that time, but Mrs. Crocker 
sternly forbade any such frivoHty after a missionary meeting. 

The first real work undertaken by this society was the 
fitting out of the first missionary from this Church, sent into 
the foreign field, the Rev. William Stocking. His labors were 
begun in Oroomiah, Persia, from which field many messages of 
efficient work were sent to this Church a number of years. 
Just here we are reminded of the present suffering, caused by 
the terrible war now raging in Europe. 

This society's first record of members and contributors 
was in 1860, and seventy in all, showing how largely every 
member of the church became identified with mission work 
under Mrs. Crocker's presidency, which concluded in 1873, 
after thirty-nine years of faithful, devoted service. Can we 
estimate the results of such service or know the gains for the 
kingdom of Christ made during these many years? 

Ex- President Harris said in a 1900 conference, after 
listening to a young Hindu lady, professor of English litera- 
ture: "If I had a million dollars to give to foreign missions, 
I should count it wisely invested if it led only to the conver- 
sion of that one woman." 

Mrs. Harriet Savage held a long term of office as vice- 
president for twenty years. She was the mother of Miss 
Mary G. Savage and Mrs. Harriet W. Wheelock, who are 
now the oldest living members, and have given lives of service 
and love to this Missionary Society. 

Miss Savage has filled every office of this society for a 
longer or shorter period, the longest being secretary and 
treasurer from 1862 to 1879 — seventeen years. Mrs. 
Wheelock, her sister, the next oldest living member, acted as 
a very efficient secretary and treasurer from 1881 to 1909 — 
a term of twenty-eight years. What we owe to these two 
members for keeping the interest in foreign missions alive is 
difficult to relate. Their love for this society never failed, 
and their untiring efforts never ceased. 

After the death of Mrs. Crocker in 1877, the office of 
president has been filled by the pastors' wives (with a few 
exceptions between times), beginning with Mrs. Dudley, 
followed by Mrs. Marshall, who was next in length for hold- 
ing this office, which she did most faithfully for nineteen years, 
the entire time of Mr. Marshall's pastorate. We remember 
with appreciation the five years of good work in this capacity 
of Mrs. Hollister, which brings us to the present time, and our 
much loved president, Mrs. Hildreth, who has led us along 
pleasant and useful ways for six years, and this society is 
prospering under her leadership. Our other officers at present 



48 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

writing are Mrs. A. N. Pierson, Vice President, Mrs. Edward 
S. Coe, Secretary, and Mrs. T. W. Beaumont, Treasurer. 

We now number twenty-five members and hold regular 
meetings each month, usually at the homes of such members 
as choose to invite us. 

The exercises are largely religious, occasionally letters 
from foreign fields being read, and such missionary intelligence 
as our leader advises. 

Quite contrary to Mrs. Crocker's prohibiting the social 
hour, we have in late years served tea and refreshments at 
the close of our gatherings which have given us pleasure not 
inappropriate to the occasion, and find it not difficult to 
imagine our first president's spirit hovering over us with 
approval. 

It may be of interest to know the amount of money given 
during these eighty-one years. The exact amount cannot be 
ascertained, but it is more than seven thousand dollars. The 
largest contribution in any one year was in 1894 — $269.98. 
Thus far, in late years, we have more than met out apportion- 
ment of $115.00 yearly. 

Not the least of our workings are shown in its branches. 
This Foreign Missionary Society is mother of our faithful 
"Ladies' Aid Society," whose record you will learn more about 
from its efficient President, Mrs. William Couch. 

In 1882 and 1883 a children's Mission Band was formed, 
and in 1884 Mrs. Dudley organized the Eaton Circle. The 
young people for years sent twenty dollars annually to Mrs. 
Eaton in Mexico to help in her missionary work. This was in 
existence until their children formed a Mission Band under 
Mrs. Hollister, and this society is still doing good work under 
the name of the "Earnest Workers," which truly expresses 
their efforts as they give us willing service and substantial 
returns every year under the leadership of our pastor's wife. 

Within a few years this organization has included Home 
Missions in its work, sending many barrels of clothing both 
West and South. 

Mention should be made of one way in which we have 
spread the Gospel message. This has been through a Bible 
reader, Guanaparhasi, in South India, who labored for years 
among the heathen supported by this society. How many 
souls have been saved through the faithful services of this 
converted native we may never know. 

In these days of "wars and rumors of wars" does it take 
no soldierly instincts to carry our foreign missionary enter- 
prises? "It is a mistake to think that all the brave deeds are 
done in uniform to martial music." Christ's words to us 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 49 

sounds a higher challenge: "Go ye into all the world and preach 
the Gospel." 

Still another branch I have failed to mention, even the 
babies of our society, called the Cradle Roll, have had their 
share in missionary work. Mrs. Bradley of Middletown first 
interested me in this little band, and for ten years it seldom 
sent less than fifteen dollars to the W. B. M. Then it was 
merged into the Sunday School primary department, and is 
there helping to spread the Gospel. 

This little mission among the children reacts upon them- 
selves, for it tends to unselfishness and forms the habit of 
thinking of others. 

Once the word missionary seemed to frighten many 
away from its gatherings, now we realize the interest in and 
love for missions comes to the Christian who loves the Master 
and His work. 

To my sisters in Christ, members of this old historic 
church, and this Foreign Missionary organization in particular, 
I submit this brief report, but asserting what I am sure each 
one feels, that this dear old society has not only done good 
work abroad, but has filled our own hearts with deeper love 
for each other, and quickened the inner desires for greater 
service in the Kingdom of God. 

The Earnest Workers, a band of girls having the future 
missionary zeal of this Church in their keeping, then earnestly 
sang: 

"Coming, coming, yes, they are, coming, coming from afar; 
From the wild and scorching desert, Africa's sons of colour deep; 
Jesus' love has drawn and won them, at His cross they bow and 
weep." 

Mrs. William P. Couch read a paper giving a summary 
of the worth and the work of the womanhood of this Church 
during the long years of its life in this community. She said : 

It is a difficult matter to write an Historical Sketch of 
the Ladies' Aid Society for the reason that the good women 
of this Church must have expended their strength in deeds 
not words, since, in the two hundred years of its existence 
only the most meagre records have been kept of the 
immense amount of work they accomplished. Not until 1891, 
when the Ladies' Aid Society was properly organized has there 
been a systematic record of the work of the women. If Mrs. 
Crocker could have used her executive ability in organizing 
the women in the practical work of the church as well as she 
organized the Missionary Society, what a splendid record we 



50 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

might read today ! Once, when an out-of-town visitor attempt- 
ed to express her opinion at a meeting, Mr. Crocker gently re- 
minded her that women were not expected to speak in pubHc. 
Perhaps Mrs. Crocker felt somewhat handicapped after this 
and became resigned to her limitations. However, we must 
not think for a moment that these active women did not record 
in other ways their doings. 

An interesting account is given by Miss Amelia Butler, 
the aunt of Kate Butler Warner and George S. Butler, of 
the moving from the old Meeting House on the green below 
up to this present building: "the non-drying of the paint kept 
us one week more from the new building," she says, and then 
follows this description: 

"Without it is brick with six pillars in front; within, 
stairs, of course, go up and down in the porch; though as 
regards the dount, the basement is unfinished. The house 
fronts the east; the desk is at the west; no window in the 
west ; four long ones each side only (blinds to be) . The desk 
is neat, indeed, low, small, white — sofa fitted thereto; two 
large astral lamps, with cushion twice the size of the Bible; 
crimson damask; no drapery or tassels. Fronting it four 
chairs, hair seats, seven dollars apiece — no center aisle. The 
aisles and all about the platform, desk, carpeted, Turkey 
carpet — backs of seats quite low ; doors still lower — ' ' and 
so the letter goes on, ending: "A new church is not an every 
day concern; besides, in a village like ours, there is so little 
of incident we make much ado about that little." The Rev. 
Dr. I. P. Warren of Portland, Me., who formerly taught in the 
academy, said of the building that it was a church edifice in 
the best style of that day. 

Mr. Dudley mentions twice in his "History of Cromwell" 
gifts from The Benevolent Society, but no mention whatever 
is made of the Sewing Society. On the other hand, in the 
Church Records the Sewing Society is mentioned as early as 
1848, and nothing said of the Benevolent Society. However, 
in the Benevolent Society there was an element tending to- 
wards practical work, such as sending clothing to missionaries, 
helping the less fortunate ones in the community and caring 
for the church. And out of this Benevolent Society and the 
Sewing Society was evolved the Ladies' Aid Society. 

All through these early years the meetings were not held 
in the basement of the Church, but in the homes. Can we not 
easily imagine these good women walking up the road to 
Mrs. Horace Hubbard's home or stopping at the house of 
Mrs. Harriet B. Savage, or at one of the numerous Wilcox 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 51 

families, or perhaps meeting at the ever hospitable homestead 
of the Savages, next door? 

The first time the Ladies' Sewing Society is mentioned 
in the Church Records is as follows: 

ANNUAL MEETING 

OCT. 30th, 1848. 

DEACON ISAAC SAGE, MODERATOR, 

ANDREW F. WARNER, CLERK. 

Voted AS follows: "Whereas the Ladies' Sewing Society have 
raised funds by the holding of a fair for the purpose of painting 
the Meeting House and have appointed a committee of young 
men to superintend the same, therefore, resolved that the clerk 
be directed to return thanks of this Society to the ladies for their 
generous efforts in behalf of the interests of the Society and that 
they have liberty to go on in such manner as they shall deem 
expedient to expend so much of their funds as they shall think 
necessary for that object, subject to the general supervision of 
of the Society's Committee." 

A fair was again held in 1849 for the purpose of raising 
funds for finishing the basement of the church. 

Thanks are given the ladies in 1856 for "carpeting the 
Meeting House," and to Miss Mary Ann Lattimer for the 
pulpit cushion. 

Seven years passed before the records show that a request 
was granted that the ladies of the congregation be permitted 
to rebuild or remodel the pulpit. 

Then came the Civil War. The basement rooms were 
used at times for the ladies and young girls to meet in to roll 
bandages, scrape lint and knit stockings, and around these 
years, before and after the war, were the girls and young 
women of the day, who, if not then members of the Sewing 
Society, later became members. 

Here they are : 

Emily, Margaret and Lizzie Allison, 

Libbie and Sarah Baldwin, 

Sarah Baisden, 

Ellen Bowers, 

Georgia Eastman, 

Mary Edwards, 

Amelia, Alice and Lizzie Hubbard, 

Laura Hutchinson, 

Celestia Hubbard, 

Addie Hicks, 

Kate Kirby, 

Mary Pelton, 

Elizabeth Pease, 

Emily Russell, 



52 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN, 

Kate, Mary and Julia Ranney, 
Nellie and Lizzie Ranney, 
Mary and Annie Sage, 
Sarah and Julia Stevens, 
Marion Wilcox, 
Cora Wilcox. 

From this number there are with us today Mrs. Pierson, 
Mrs. Noble and her sister Mrs. Newton, Mrs. Gunn and Miss 
Amelia, Mrs. Calef, Mrs. Greaves, Mrs. Coe, Miss Sarah 
Savage and Mrs. Adams. The others are no longer living 
or perhaps are too far away to come back for this reunion. 

Again a few years intervened according to the records 
before these active women were cautioned as to incurring any 
expense on account of the Church Society, but asked (and 
allowed) to make such repairs in the basement of the church 
as they might deem expedient. 

In 1874, the church was cleaned, frescoed and carpeted 
by this same society. 

In 1885 the women of the church are asking permission 
to remove the "slip-doors." (Should not this generation put 
them back?) 

And in 1887 permission is given the ladies "to build on 
to the west end of the church an addition of wood for the 
organ, also to remove the eight seats near the west end of the 
church. These seats were called the "Amen Pews." Many 
of you will remember that in these seats sat Miss Ursula 
Smith, Mr. Abiel Geer, Mr. and Mrs. John Baker and Mr. 
Elisha Sage. 

About this time the Carol Club was formed, and I speak 
of this because all the members belonged to the Sewing Society, 
as it was then, and on account of the new pulpit. Julia Waters 
conceived the idea of the club and the original members were 
Julia Waters, who married Marion G. Bryce of Pittsburgh; 
Lucy Savage, Carrie Savage, who married George S. Butler; 
Jennie Hanscom, afterwards Mrs. George W. Hanmer of 
Brooklyn; Sarah Wilcox, later Mrs. Edward Wright of Hartford; 
Bertha Smith, who married Wm. H. Stevens of Hartford. Later 
Mary Waters and I were asked to join. The object of the 
club was to sing Christmas carols, going about the town the 
night before Christmas. (Perhaps it was fortunate that 
Christmas came "but once a year.") But our talents were not 
confined to our songs for one winter we gave some unforget- 
able charades, musicals and other entertainments and earned 
enough money to buy the pulpit which now gives way to a 
more fitting one. I know each member here today is glad 
to put aside the old pulpit for the new one in order that this 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 53 



detail of the interior of the church may correspond to the 
building, which, as has been said before, was of the best 
style of its time. 

In 1891 the Ladies' Aid Society was formally organized. 
The records do not give the names of the officers for the first 
year nor of the members. Through these first years of the 
organization the names of the members, directoresses and 
officers recur constantly upon the books in one capacity or 
another. You will recognize many of the members of today 
in the following list of those interested in the early years: 

The second year the names of the officers only were 
recorded, and they were : 

Pres., Mrs. Beaumont, Wice-Pres., Mrs. Geo. Wilcox, 

Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Emeda Sage. 
Directresses 
Mrs. Chas. Frisbie, Mrs. A. N. Pierson, 

Mrs. H. G. Marshall, Miss Sarah Topliff, 

Collectors 

Center District, Mrs. McDonald and Miss Topliff, 

West District, Mrs. Wright, South District, Mrs. Meilliez, 

North District, Miss Sadie Noble and Miss AUce Fawthrop 
Nooks, Mrs. Pierson, No. W. District, Miss Emeda Sage 

The names of the members for the next two or three 
years were the familiar ones of that time and today. 



Mrs. Mary Bliss, 
Mrs. Susan McKinstry, 
Mrs. J. Robinson, 
Mrs. Martha Baisden, 
Mrs. Maria Ranney, 
Miss Sarah Cannon, 
Miss Gussie Cannon, 
Miss Katie Simpson, 
Mrs. McRae, 
Mrs. Agnes Kirkpatrick, 
Mrs. Bulkeley Edwards, 
Mrs. Andrew Botelle, 
Miss Ella Ward, 
Mrs. Thomas Noble, 
Mrs. Caleb Pease, 
Mrs. T. Binks, 
Mrs. T. Lyons, 
Mrs. E. Bailey, 
Miss Mary Sage, 
Mr. Beaumont, 
Mrs. J. Edwards, 
Mrs. H. Taylor, 
Miss Hattie Wilcox, 
Mrs. Leverett Wright, 
Mr. Charles Frisbie, 
Mrs. Barbour, 



Mr. Geo. Wilcox, 

Mrs. Dr. Hallock, 

Mrs. Frank Hallock, 

Miss Susie Hallock, 

Mr. and Mrs. Hulbert, 

Mrs. Baldwin, 

Dr. E. Baldwin, 

Miss Sara Savage, 

Mrs. McDonald, 

Mrs. Wheelock, 

Miss M. Savage, 

Mrs. Sellew, 

Mrs. Gillum, 

Mr. E. Coe and Miss A. Coe, 

Miss M. Waters, 

Mrs. Maitland, 

Mrs. Edw. Jones, 

Mrs. Milks, 

Mrs. Geo. Smith, 

Mrs. Joseph Wilcox, 

Mr. Fred Wilcox, 

Mrs. Jerry Hubbard, 

Mrs. Prior, 

Mr. Robert Griswold, 

Mrs. Mary Griswold, 

Mrs. Andrus, 



54 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

Miss Lucy Savage, Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Hubbard, 

Miss Carrie Savage, Miss Amelia Hubbard, 

Mr. Marshall, Miss Alice Hubbard, 

Miss Hattie Hubbard, Mrs. Gunn, 

Miss Nellie McPherson, Mrs. Sibyl Penniman, 

Miss Lillie Gay, Mrs. Clarence Penniman, 

Mrs. J. K. Sage, Miss Jennie Hanscom, 

A few figures will suffice to prove the interest and good 
will and what has been accomplished in the organization of 
today. 

At the Annual Meeting in 1893 the first mention was 
made of a Parish House and a committee appointed to confer 
with the Mission Circle in regard to working for the benefit 
of this fund. In 1896 Miss Susan Treat gave $50.00 towards 
this fund. January 1, 1915, the fund amounts to $1,344.29. 

Miss Sarah Topliff, always an active member, left the 
society $300.00 in her will. 

The continued interest of Julia Waters Brice in the 
society was shown by her generous gift of glass for our table. 

In 1904 the ladies built a new chimney in the Southeast 
comer of the church. 

In 1908 the expense of renovating the church was 
$2,532.97. Of this amount the society gave $600.00. 

With the exception of a few times, when $50.00 was given 
each year, $75.00 has been given yearly to the Music Com- 
mittee. 

Monthly suppers are an established method of earning 
money besides bringing together the people for a social 
evening. 

It would take too much time to relate in detail the work 
done. To the memory of a few let me say this, that we must 
be ever grateful for the example set us by Mrs. Harriet B. 
Savage, who served for years as president of the Benevolent 
Society while carrying on her household duties; for the 
example set us by Mrs. Ralph B. Savage, who served as presi- 
dent of the Sewing Society when bringing up her large and 
splendid family; for the example set us by Miss Sarah Top- 
liff and Miss Emma Savage, who used often to take their 
brooms and dust-cloths and come to this building that it 
might be swept and garnished, not because they had to, but 
because they loved to keep it clean and spotless. When we 
think of the workers in the past is not this organization well 
named, and should it not ever be to this church a Ladies' Aid? 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 55 

Again, "the Old Fashioned Choir" rendered an appropri- 
ate selection entitled: — "May Bells and the Flowers." 

The Rev. Dr. Hazen, pastor of the North Church, 
Middletown, was then called upon for words of greeting. 
Good and gracious were the words of cheer and congratulation 
which he brought us from the mother Church of this parish. 

Many a reminiscent letter was received from friends and 
members in various parts of our country. From these the 
pastor gave brief citations. One of the most helpful of 
these letters as a witness of the worth of christian character 
was received from Mr. C. A. Butler, of West Orange, N. J. 
He wrote: 

Through som.e friend, I lately received a copy of the 
"Hartford Courant" announcing the approaching 200th anni- 
versary of your parish. 

When sixteen years of age, in 1848, under the pastorate 
of Rev. George A. Bryan, I was baptized and received into 
the church on profession of faith. 

The Rev. William S. Wright was at that time principal 
of the academy which I attended, and his Godly counsel was 
the means of my conversion. His memory I still cherish with 
affection. 

I remember distinctly the character of Rev. Zebulon 
Crocker through his pastoral visits to the family of my uncle, 
Sylvester Butler, who was highly respected, and his son, my 
cousin George H. Butler, who was for many years a Deacon, 
and was held in high esteem, dying in your parish at more 
than fourscore years of age. Uncle Sylvester's wife, "Aunt 
Anna," was devoted to good works on every hand. She 
also attained long life, widely loiown as a friend "indeed." 

The added influence of these individuals, their examples 
and their works upon my early and later life are precious 
recollections that have never faded. 

Uncle Sylvester always had family prayers every morning 
before the day's work began, at which the household and 
guests, if any, attended, humbly and reverently, and allow 
me to add that I adopted this custom and practice, still 
unbroken for fifty-six years of my married life. 

Uncle Sylvester and family were always much interested 
in the missionary work, and uncle frequently in his prayers 
petitioned for the time to come when "the earth shall be filled 
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters 
cover the sea," (Hab. 2-14), which hope has been fulfilled in 
my day. 

I was confirmed in the Protestant Episcopal Church at 
St. George, New York, by Rev. Stephen Tyng, D. D., Rector, 



56 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

in 1857. Dr. Tyng was a great advocate and promoter of the 
Sunday School, under whom I became a teacher there and 
for thirty-three years thereafter continued in different New 
York and Brooklyn parishes as voluntary teacher of large 
Bible classes and superintendent. The last Sunday School 
to which I was appointed as superintendent continued for 
eight years, under three rectors, and by removal elsewhere 
I most reluctantly resigned, leaving a thoroughly equipped 
Sunday School with twelve officers, seventy-six classes, each 
with a teacher, and a membership of about six hundred; 
hence I have the best of reasons for faith in the Sunday School 
work. 

I am writing this letter on June 13th, my eighty-third 
anniversary birthday — my wife at seventy-six, having been 
married nearly fifty-six years. The fact of prolonged life, 
together for such a long period in times like the present, is 
almost as remarkable as living at all. 

Being in business in New York for sixty-three years has 
afforded me rather unusual opportunities to travel on busi- 
ness in forty-two different states, and to marvel more and 
more at this country's expansion in greatness and power. 
Besides I can recognize that righteousness, religion and truth 
are more than ever manifest and immeasureably increasing 
in a country whose living patriots are still invincible, whose 
buried martyrs are not forgotten and its ministers of God 
honored and revered. 

The closing song of this much blessed service was again 
the Memorial Hymn beginning: 

"On this glad day we sing Thy praise, 
And feel Thy presence ever near; 
Oh crown us with Thy richest grace, 
And fill our lives with love and cheer." 

The Anniversary Reception was held in the church 
parlors at 5 o'clock. The Pastor and his wife, Rev. and 
Mrs. Homer W. Hildreth, Deacon and Mrs, Edward 8. Coe, 
and Deacon and Mrs. Edward C. Bailey received the many 
friends and members of the church who attended. 

The parlors were beautifully decorated and the collation 
served so graciously by the members of the Ladies' Aid 
Society was much enjoyed. 

The concluding exercises of the Bi-Centennial were held 
in the evening at seven-thirty. The organ selections of this 
service were from the Seventh-Sonata by Alexander Guilmant, 
and were "Entree" and "Finale." 

The pastoral reminiscences of the Rev. F. M. HoUister, 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 57 

of Mvstic, were much appreciated. "0 God, Beneath Thy 
Guiding Hand" was the hymn-prayer that made us ready 
for the imipressive message of the Moderator of our National 
Council, the Rev. Dr. Charles R. Brown, New Haven, His 
inspiring appeal was for "The Church that Stands Four 
Square." He said in part: 

When John had his vision on the Isle of Patmos he saw 
a Holy City, an ideal social order. It was not a stationary 
ideal, it was moving. It was coming down out of heaven from 
God. It was coming down out of the realm of fancy into the 
realm of accomplished fact. 

Not away yonder in the skies but here on this common 
earth there was to come an order of life that would have in it 
the glory of God, causing it to shine Hke a cluster of jewels. 
Here on this earth was to come an order of life into which the 
kings of the earth, the mighty ruling forces of society, would 
bring their glory and honor. Here on this earth was to be 
worked out an order of life into which nothing would enter 
that would defile or work abomination, or make a lie. It was 
a magnificent ideal, not static but dynamic, not stationary 
but moving, coming down out of heaven from God, out of the 
realm of vision into the realm of spiritual achievement. 
This ideal social order stood four-square. It faced in 
every direction; it fronted squarely and directly on every 
conceivable human interest and activity. It stood there with 
three gates on each side, "on the east three gates, on the west 
three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates." 
It was openly inviting all these varied human interests to come 
in and receive interpretation and illumination at the hands of 
the spititual forces there resident. It stood there solid, 
symmetrical, four-square, facing all the winds of influence 
that might blow, ready to send out its own beneficent influence 
on every field of human effort. 

Now I take it that this may well represent the ideal 
Christian church. It, too, must be an open, hospitable place, 
calling upon the kings of the earth, the mighty ruling forces of 
human society, to bring their glory and honor into it. It, too, 
undertakes to fill this entire life of ours with divine glory so 
that it will have no need of the sun or the moon to lighten it. 
It undertakes to interpret and illuminate all the various 
interests and activities of human life by the spiritual forces 
which it embodies. And to do this it must in like manner 
stand four-square, facing upon all there is. 

I wonder how far our own Pilgrim churches have measured 
up to that comprehensive ideal ? When I study their history 



58 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

I find that these four fundamental interests have been faced 
and met. 

I. The Interest of Christian Education. 

This is one of the primary fundamental interests of our 
Christian faith. The title which Jesus received most com- 
monly and most willingly was that of "Master." He called 
his followers "Disciples," that is to say, "learners" or "pupils" 
in the mode of life He came to introduce. He was in the habit 
of saying, "I am the Truth; and ye shall know the Truth; 
and the Truth shall make you free" — free from all that would 
hurt or hinder their growth and usefulness. The redemption 
of those men would be like an educational process in spiritual 
nurture and culture. 

When Jesus saw the multitude He opened His mouth not 
to scold them, not to flatter them — "He opened His mouth 
and taught them" what they needed to know. When He 
finished, the people were astonished at His doctrine because 
He taught them as One having authority of immediate, first- 
hand knowledge of spiritual reality. He was ready to stake 
the future of His cause on the slow, patient, but irresistable 
processes of spiritual education. He believed that His fol- 
lowers could go forth and by instruction and persuasion, by 
the power of moral appeal and right example build a kingdom 
of thought, feeling and purpose against which the gates of 
hell could not prevail. 

Now the Congregational church has from the first had 
this interest of Christian education upon its heart. The 
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620. They were compelled 
like the apostles of old to work in hunger and cold, in weariness 
and painfulness, in perils of savages and in perils of the wilder- 
ness. Yet, in exactly sixteen years from the time they landed 
on that bleak coast, they, out of their penury, founded Harvard 
College, which abides to this day as the leading university 
on this continent. 

The men who have given of their best to the great interests 
of Christian education have been master builders in the 
rearing of that ideal social order which is to stand four-square . 

The real work of education grows every year more vital. 
The campus abuts more directly on the market-place and the 
polling place. The highest buildings look off with unobstructed 
view upon the farm and the factory, the mill and the mine, 
the home and the church. They were built in the first place 
to minister directly to all the main forms of everyday life. 



J 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 59 

You will occasionally find people, some of them on the 
campus and some of them off the campus, to whom knowl- 
edge is nothing but a statement. It is a statem.ent to be 
written out and printed in a book for other people to read. 
"Here is knowledge," they say, "rear it, study it, memorize 
it if 3'ou will, and in the day of examination ycu w411 be saved." 
You will find others to whom knowledge is nothing but 
a tool. It is a tool which can be set to dig or to build, to heal 
or to plead, to teach or to preach, and thus made to yield a 
financial return. "Here is knowledge," they say, "master 
the use of it and it will put money in thy purse." 

You will find others to whom knowledge is nothing but 
a picture to be framed and hung on the wall. "Here is 
knowledge, "they say, "learn to admire it as a man of culture; 
read Browning twice in the week; give a tithe of your time 
to the Atlantic Monthly and you will be numbered with the 
^lite." The abstract, the commercial and the decorative 
ideas of knowledge all have their turn at the bat, and they all 
fail to score when the game is wnritten up because they deal 
only with that which is secondary. 

The primary office of knowledge is to make people alive; 
alive at more points, alive on higher levels, alive in more 
interesting and effective ways. The school enters the com- 
munity saying, "I am come that you might have life and that 
you might have it more abundantly. This know and thou 
shalt live." It undertakes to send out into the highways and 
byways young men and women who are alive to their finger 
tips — alive all the way up, and all the way down, and all 
the way in. It would make them alive in their hearts with 
noble sentiments and fine purposes as well as in their heads; 
alive in their souls with a sense of the deeper and more enduring 
values as well as in their hands trained to profitable tasks. 
The school at its best is the competent and willing servant of 
life at its best. 

When Bronson Alcott was living in Concord he strolled 
one day into the village school. He was invited to address 
the school. He stood up, looking at the children with that 
' genuine interest he felt in whatever was hum.an — and I 
suppose the ordinary schoolroom would yield as m.any bushels 
of pure, unadulterated human nature to the acre as any field 
to be nam.ed. 

He presently burst out, "What did you children com.e 
here for?" They looked at each other, whispered a little, 
giggled a little, feeling rather tickled on the whole at being 
inquired of, instead of being preached to. Finally, one of the 
bolder spirits raised his hand and said, "We came to learn." 



60 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

"To learn what?" Mr. Alcott asked. Again the children 
meditated and recalled, perhaps, the particular aspects of 
their experience at school which had impressed them most, 
and the answer came back, "To learn to behave." 

"You have it right," the philosopher said. "Out of the 
mouths of babes and sucklings," out of the utterances of those 
simple, direct, childlike minds which say just what they think, 
the world adds mainly to its store of knowledge. The children 
had come there above all else that they might learn to behave, 
wisely, nobly, usefully. 

********** 

II. The Cause of Christian Missions. 

The first three words Jesus uttered were, "Come, Follow, 
Abide." "Come unto Me and I will give you rest. Come 
unto Me and I will give you Eternal Life." This invited the 
movement of the life toward that which is central and funda- 
mental. 

"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Follow 
Me and I will make you the servants of life. This indicates 
the further movement of the life not on lines identical with 
His, but parallel. 

"Abide in Me and ye shall bring forth much fruit." This 
indicates the more intimate dynamic relation of the life to 
Him, not provided for in the idea of coming or following. 

"Come, Follow, Abide" — thesewere His first three words, 
but there was a fourth and last word. Just before He left His 
disciples He said, "Go." This provides for the expression of 
that quality of life gained by coming, following, and abiding 
in concrete action and service. Go ! Go everywhere ! Tell 
everybody ! Go into all the world and tell the good news you 
have received to every creature ! And lo, I am with you in 
that great work even unto the consummation of your highest 
hopes. It was the great task of world-wide Christian missions 
which He there laid upon their hearts. 

The Congregational church has made a splendid showing 
on that side of our four-square life. Those young men of 
prophetic mood held their haystack meeting at Williams 
College and it led to the organization of the American Board 
of Foreign Missions. They knelt down saying, "We can do 
it if we will." They rose up saying, "We can do and we will." 

********** 

It is for the churches of our faith to face squarely the 
great moral frontiers. Yonder in non-Christian lands, black 
men and brown men, yellow men and red men, await the 
influence of Christ's gospel ! Here in our own land if you 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 61 

"arise and go toward the south" you will find "a man of 
Ethiopia" waiting for some one to guide him as to the meaning 
of what he reads ; waiting to be baptized into all the helpfulness 
of our Christian institutions ! Here in our own land also the 
ends of the earth have come together, massing themselves 
in all our great cities ! The immigrants, having broken their 
home ties and their old religious affiliations, constitute one of 
our greatest problems. In the face of it all the church that 
is at ease is already accursed of God for not coming up to the 
help of the Lord against the mighty. It is for every Pilgrim 
church to build strongly and generously on that side of its 
four-square life. 

III. The Task of Social Service. 

The word social is in danger of being overworked. In 
some quarters the people show signs of weariness when the 
social applications of religion or the social activities of 
Christian service are being urged. The word had to be 
overworked to break up the fallow groimd of a long-lying, 
contented individualism. 

But the idea of social service is not something new and 
fantastic, a novelty that some clever man worked out over 
night. It has been one of the chartered rights and duties of 
the Christian movement from the very first. When Jesus 
made His first public address there in the synagogue at 
Nazareth He struck the social note fairly and firmly. "The 
spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He hath anointed Me 
to preach good tidings to the poor. He hath sent Me to bind 
up the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives 
and to set at liberty them that are bruised." 

Those words might have been embodied literally in 
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address or in his Emancipation 
Proclam.ation. They are there in spirit. They might be 
engraved literally on the doorpost of Graham Taylor's house 
in Chicago Commons — they are there in substance. They 
might sound forth when Washington Gladden makes his 
social appeal or sings, "Oh Master, let me walk with Thee." 
They are there in the spiritual quality of this modern prophet's 
utterances. Social service is a part of the simple, original 
apostolic Christianity which we find in the New Testament. 

How natural it has been that many of the pioneers in this 
form of Christian efibrt, both ministers and laymen, have 
been men of our Pilgrim faith ! It has been in the line of a 
genuine, apostolic succession. Cur predecessors, the Puritan 
pastors of New England, dreamed of a day when they would 
have a genuine theocracy, a life ruled from on high by the 



62 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

spirit of God; when all their interests, civic and industrial, 
educational and social, would be ruled by the will of God. 

They showed this in the three-fold use they made of a 
certain substantial building standing usually on the center 
of the Green. Limiber was scarce and dear, so that economy 
was imperative. On Sunday this building was used as a 
meeting-house; on the five succeeding days as a school- 
house; and on Saturday as the townhouse. The same walls 
which had resounded under the mighty spiritual appeals of 
those sturdy preachers echoed back the voices of little children 
as they learned the multiplication table and declared the 
mysteries of English grammar; and then still later in the 
week the same walls heard the earnest debates of the citizens 
as they chose their selectmen and transacted the civil business 
of the community. It was a trinity of manifestation, one 
house revealing itself as meeting-house, schoolhouse, and 
townhouse. This served to bring their entire life under the 
power of a spiritual consecration. 

The church, by the sheer strength of its spiritual influence, 
must still stand central in all the varied interests of our 
communtiy life. It is the business of the church to deepen 
that sense of economic justice which will lead to a more 
equitable distribution of the joint products of brawn and 
brain. It is the business of the church to stand for a more 
democratic spirit in the control of the great industries because 
the main office of those industries is not to make money, but 
to make men. It is the business of the church to permeate 
the community more thoroughly with that sort of intelligent 
good will which alone can serve as the informing and directing 
agent in the development of a type of life which is to replace 
the present social disorder. It is the business of the church 
to insist that there is a Will of God in all this buying and 
selling, employing and being employed, producing, trans- 
porting, and exchanging — and that men can only be right 
in their hearts when they enter upon these activities saying, 
"Thy will be done here as it is done among the stars." It is 
the business of the four-square church to undertake all this, 
knowing how insufficient it is for the high and hard task, but 
knowing also that its strength will be made perfect in weak- 
ness if it sets its heart upon those things which are right in 
the sight of God. 

We profess to have the words of Eternal Life in our 
keeping as a church of the living God. We profess to have 
the oracles of God which we are commissioned to tell to the 
world. We stand as the organized expression of the Christian 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 63 

impulse of the coimnunity. It is for us then to face all these 
social problems wisely, patiently, but squarely. It is for us 
to stimulate interest, to inspire action, to proclaim the full 
content of the Christian gospel until, in this troubled world 
of work which eats up six-sevenths of the time and strength 
of our people, we shall see the ideal social order which John 
saw, coming down out of heaven from God to be set in opera- 
tion here on this common earth. 

IV. The Work of Evangelism. 

Here we touch upon that which is fundamental to all the 
rest. The splendid work of Christian education is an expression 
of Christian impluse already begotten in the hearts of men 
and women who are Christians. The work of missions is 
carried on with the money and by the consecrated manhood 
and womanhood of those who are already enrolled in the 
service of Christ. If we are to have that glorious thing 
called "Applied Christianity" in all these forms of social 
service we must have some Christianity to apply. Lincoln 
used to say, "If I am to be President of the United States 
I must first see to it that there is a United States to be Presi- 
dent of." Our first concern, therefore, underlying all these 
other interests I have named, is to see that we have an increas- 
ing supply of Christianity which may find expression along 
these varied lines. 

The Master never allowed this simple, primary interest 
to be obscured, "Follow Me," he said, "and I will make 
you fishers of men." He sent His disciples out as good 
shepherds to find the lost sheep — the shepherd was not to 
come back until he could lay that lost sheep on his shoulders 
and bring it home rejoicing. Jesus breathed on His followers 
and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit! Whose soever sins 
ye remit, they are remitted. Whatsoever you loose on earth 
shall be loosed in the realm of moral permanence." They 
were to make full proof of their ministry by doing effectively 
the work of the evangelist. 

Our Pilgrim churches have not been lacking at this point. 
The Great Awakening which did so much toward furnishing 
the necessary moral fibre for the W^ar of Independence was 
ushered in by the mighty evangelistic preaching of Jonathan 
Edwards. The spiritual passion in New York State, in 
Pennsylvania, and in the Western Reserve of Ohio, which 
aided so grandly in freeing the slaves, owed much to the 
great revivals initiated by President Finney of Oberlin. And 
the whole world knows that the greatest evangelist of the 
nineteenth century was Dwight L. Moody, a sturdy, conse- 



G4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 

crated, Congregational layman. The work of these Congrega- 
tional evangelists was not mere noise and froth, creating a 
nine days' wonder and then leaving the community cold. 
It was the honest, thorough, effective enlisting of great 
numbers of thoughtful men and women in the open, active 
service of Jesus Christ. We cannot have too much of that 
type of evangelism. 

********** 

Here then you have the picture or these four main 
interests in the four-square church ! There are three gates 
on every side through which Christian impulse may find 
expression on all these fields of effort. It is not wise nor right 
that any one of the four should belittle either of the others 
in the supposed interests of its own great ends. Let all stand 
together and build together, — Christian education and 
world-wide missions, the great work of social service and the 
supreme task of Christian evangelism ! Then our church 
life wall rise solid, substantial and symmetrical. The winds 
may blow, the rains descend, and the waves beat upon that 
house, but it will stand secure, firmly founded on the rock 
of obedience to Christ. 

The address of Dr. Brown was followed by a Musicale 
under the direction of Miss Marion E. Hastings, Dr. Charles 
A. McKendree and Mrs. Edward W. Johnson. 

The renditions were : 

fHab (Ipuartrt Selected 

Dr. R. H. Stow, Dr. C. A. McKendree, 

Mr. Daniel Wilkins, Mr. Thomas B. Barbour 

Hinltn ^oia, "Legende," Carl Bo/im, Op. J14, No. 7 

Marcus H. Fleitzer 

^uprano &ulfl, (a) "Absent," - - - - Tirendell 

(b) "I wait for Thee," - - Hawley 

Miss Anne Robbins 

i^Flobg in 3^, Rubinstein 

Christian Endeavor Orchestra 

Uinlin ^nlo, (a) "Aria," - - C. B. Pergolesi, {ijio-iyjd) 
(b) "Deutscher Tanz," 

W. A. Mozart, {1736-1791) 

Marcus H. Fleitzer 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 65 

j^oprami ^alo. "Down in the Forest," Langdon Ronald 

Miss Anne Robbins 

iflalp Q^uartrt Selected 

©rgan Pnatlubr. "Finale" from Seventh Sonata 

These numbers were much appreciated by the large 
audience present although it appears that the Endeavor 
Orchestra had "its hopes and fears"expressed by one of their 
number in the amusing jingle: 

"Eight little orchestrians feeling kind of blue. 
Fleitzer has played his solo 
And now they must play too. 

Eight little orchestrians sighing with relief 
Never mind how bad it was, 
They didn't come to grief." 

With this blending of the Secular and the Spiritual in 
the up-building of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in 
heaven — we, as God's people crossed another invisible 
line in time called a Century with a Divinely deepened 
consciousness that it is ours to proclaim visions of the Truth, 
as God's prophets bearing men's burdens as His cross-bearers, 
comforting lonely lives and forgiving sinning hearts until we 
shall work out what we pray and pray out what we sing 
blessing others even more than we are blessed with — 

" * * * the music rolling onward 

Through the boundless regions bright, 
Where the King in all His beauty 

Is the glory and the light, 
When the sunshine of His presence 

Every wave of sorrow stills, 
And the bells of joy are ringing 

On the everlasting hills." 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 076 115 1 




m 



